3 Yr Old with Anxiety Issues

First, be proud that you are willing to get help for your child. I have a daughter diagnosed recently on the autism spectrum, and just this year has required treatment for generalized anxiety disorder. I would suggest using your pediatrician as a resource. We found that cognitive behavioral therapy is helping her, but it's a long road.
There are SO many books out there, I also suggest read, read, read. There is also a useful website I found, www.worrywisekids.org. I am sure there are many more!

Good luck to you. The hardest part for me was, and still is, asking for help. But it will be worth it.

Part of that worry is normal, since at this age they become more aware. Also at this age kids stop napping, so just give those up. What worked for us was just making her really feel safe. For bed time we just had an extra bed in her room. At first I would sit and read until she fell asleep and then I would sleep in her room. After a while I told her I would come to bed later, but she was able to fall asleep since I was upstairs folding laundry or reading or watching tv, and when she woke up in the night I was in the other bed. Then for a while I told her I might come sleep in her room or I might sleep in my own bed, and she was fine with that. We also added window alarms in her room and she sleeps with a night light. My husband snores loudly so it was not a big sacrifice to sleep in her lovely quiet room! The book "The highly sensitive child - helping our children thirve when the world overwhelms them" by Elaine Aron was a great help for me with suggestions for various stages in life (toddler, preschool, elementary, highschool, etc). Amazon sells it and your local library may have it. Be patient, she will learn to cope but at this age you will have to adjust the world to her so later she can be confident enough to adjust to the world. Good luck.
Bye the way, my daughters are 14 and 11 now and both are very well adjusted and happy girls. The oldest is the most sensitive and the youngest less so. It comes with great positives as well - generally more artistic ability and an amazing empathy to the hurts of others, as well as really deep thinking along with the deep feelings. The book will help you see her sensitivity in a positive light.

We had a milder form of the issues that you described. We've done neurofeedback. I, like you, was at my wits end. It's pretty radical for some but I'm positive it would cure it. My son is now fine.

How about taking her to see a child psychologist? If you have insurance they may cover the cost of the visit. Someone like that could evaluate her and see if she would benefit from therapy or other accommodations.

My daughter is also 3.5 and I have recently noticed an increase in sensitivity to things like noise, the emotions of others, etc. There must be something about the increased awareness in things like this at this age. And for a child who is sensitive by nature, it may be more extreme for them. I agree that you should explore and rule out any underlying issue with your doctor. But in the meantime, try not to let your mind go there too much. Does she go to preschool? Perhaps try starting small on one thing - like an art project. Get her started on it and then leave the room when she is comfortable working on it alone. Maybe this solo comfort could begin to translate into other areas. Have a single child over to play, just for a short time, with a structured activity. She needs to start slow, and small. Stay strong mom!

So sorry you and your family are going through this!I know it must be exhausting!Don't take this wrong but I would get her checked for Autism or Aspergers.I may be totally off but the sensory issues,anxiety,getting fixated on things,not liking loud noises are some symptoms.Does she socialize well?

So sorry your family is going through this. What I'm going to suggest is probably something you've never heard of; Its new to me too. It's a food sensitivity test called the ImmunoBloodprint test. Eliminating certain foods can improve anxiety, depression, ADD/ADHD, arthritis, migraines, muscle/joint pain, high blood pressure--the list is long & varied. My hubby & I had it done & his frequent migraines are now non existent and my blood pressure is perfect (pill free) for the first time in my life. Here's a link so you can read more about it; it's very interesting and the results are amazing. http://www.betterhealthusa.com/

Hi,
Boy, you have had some very difficult months to deal with, including your difficult pregnancy and your baby's reflux. I think you have some wonderfully supportive letters already, but I just wanted to clarify your comment about EI. EI is for children from birth to 3. Your next step may be to contact the local school system now to ask for a screening as soon as school opens. There may be services available for the sensory issues. As for the sleeping issues, you could zone in on those now with your pediatrician or parenting classes, because if you could help your daughter sleep a full night, many of her sensitivities to new folks, sounds, etc. and anxieties could be diminished. If your pediatrician cannot help you with the sleeping, a referral to another doctor who can is reasonable.

It sounds to me like she has some form of autism. There is a huge "spectrum" of autism disorders, and many of them are high functioning...as in, you can learn to lead a great life with them. I, myself, have Aspergers and you'd never know it unless I told you, but I've had a lifetime of learning how to deal with anxiety. :)

Best thing, I think, is to offer plenty of security, make everything SUPER routine, and offer lots of love and comfort. Encourage her without making her feel bad...don't be pushy, but ALWAYS offer the opportunity.

Take her to see a child neurologist or a child psychiatrist....I would have her evaluated for spectrum issues and see what tools are available to you to help her...

I know you don't want to label your daughter but she needs help NOW...

At her age - I would have trouble giving her medication but she needs something...up 100x a night?! totally excessive and not sure if it's a spectrum thing or because she now knows how to manipulate you and daddy and has now become accustomed to waking to ensure you are there.....I'm not you though...I applaud you for doing this...I don't know if I could walk in your shoes..

I hope you find a doctor that can help you - as not getting enough sleep will only exacerbate her issues.

Poor baby. That must be rough on her being scared all the time like that. My mom has anxiety issues, she is schizophrenic but from what I understand it is partly genetic and partly triggered from a traumatic event, so I doubt it's that. I see her get anxiety over not parking in the same spot at a store, I always think how rough that must be on my mom to go through that. I would run all the tests to make sure she doesn't have any disorders. Abnormal Anxiety is a disorder in itself too.

Talk what the noises are... the more details the better. I'm not saying to tell her she shouldn't be scared, that will just fuel the fire. Just explain did you hear that truck too? (or reassure her, Oh that truck scared me too) It was loud wasn't it? A lot of times beliefs we have caters to our anxiety/fears. She is by herself and thinks everyone left her or a monster is going to get her, mistaken belief fueling her anxiety. When she does fall asleep pop in a break for you. Even if she wakes up again you need to recharge yourself, it must be stressful.