This morning, my son, who very recently turned 7, and I walked to school to turn in his school supplies. His first day of school is tomorrow. He told me on the way there he was very nervous about seeing his friends since he had been away for the summer. On the way home, he showed me he’d injured himself. I gasped because I had heard of injuring and knew he was instinctively doing this to stop his anxiety about going back to school. I spoke with him about it and he confessed it was not the first time he has resorted to this behavior when upset or emotionally overwhelmed. He just turned 7 so I was a little shocked he was starting this behavior but also know where it will lead if left unchecked. He’s too young understand and I am not sure how to proceed with help. I don’t want to make too much of a fuss and make this a major issue in his life but I also know he has to learn the proper coping skills so this behavior does not continue. All the advice and posts I have read deal with teenagers and adults. Any ideas for such a little one?
Take him to a therapyst…..it wont make a big impact…and you dont exactly have to tell him why he is going… He will se him/her as a friend. Many little kids go to therapy. Boy would i have wanted to see one as a kid. Anyways, make sure he doesnt have any sharp objects in his room….and whenever you, tell him off, yell at him, ar if something happens at school, be sure to wait a few minutes before you speak to him about how he feels. Hes young so he’ll apreciate you paying him so much attention.
Good luck, make sure to stay strong, this is probably hard on you too
I just learned in July that my 15 year old daughter has been harming herself for a year. Looking back, I can trace the behavior to around the 4th grade. I didn’t know back then. SI wasn’t part of my vocabulary. If it could turn the clocks back I would take her to a psychologist and get her treated for depression. If I had, maybe we wouldn’t be going through this now.
Be thankful he showed you. Stay calm and open to what he has to say. But, get him help now.
You’re in my thoughts.