Frieda
Member
One of my 12 year old girls has been having a rough time over the last year. It started with her not wanting to go out with friends to crying and pleading in the AM not to go to school, crying in the nurses office and not wanting to go out of the house to go to events she would usually like (like dinner, family friends, concerts...) We usually drag her out anyway and while she spends the first 30 minutes insisting we take her back home, she does almost always end up having a good time.
Here is why I think it could be an anxiety disorder: Her brother and grandma have anxiety disorders, it does run in my family. She has always been a bit more high-strung and emotive and type A. She is a good conscientious student, she does not do this to avoid responsibilities. She has friends and is not being bullied at school.
Why I wonder about teen drama: She has always been a bit more dramatic and is now hitting the teen years with all it's hormones. I have noticed that sometimes she will be all happy and giggly with her friends or sister but as soon as she sees me the everyone-hates-me , don't-make-me-go-drama starts. She is a middle school girl.
I have been doing my best not to feed any drama and I tell her that one of the ways to fight anxiety is stay on schedule and keep busy. I downloaded some meditation on her phone and she does them almost daily. I am reluctant to go the therapist/doctor route at this time because I am worried that we would jump to medication too quick or that she starts identifying as 'anxious girl' instead of herself. She seems pretty susceptible to suggestions to me.
Any other parents of teen girls out there with similar experiences?
Here is why I think it could be an anxiety disorder: Her brother and grandma have anxiety disorders, it does run in my family. She has always been a bit more high-strung and emotive and type A. She is a good conscientious student, she does not do this to avoid responsibilities. She has friends and is not being bullied at school.
Why I wonder about teen drama: She has always been a bit more dramatic and is now hitting the teen years with all it's hormones. I have noticed that sometimes she will be all happy and giggly with her friends or sister but as soon as she sees me the everyone-hates-me , don't-make-me-go-drama starts. She is a middle school girl.
I have been doing my best not to feed any drama and I tell her that one of the ways to fight anxiety is stay on schedule and keep busy. I downloaded some meditation on her phone and she does them almost daily. I am reluctant to go the therapist/doctor route at this time because I am worried that we would jump to medication too quick or that she starts identifying as 'anxious girl' instead of herself. She seems pretty susceptible to suggestions to me.
Any other parents of teen girls out there with similar experiences?