Thanks Rachel. I’m so pleased the article has been helpful.

Oh, and, my 10 yr old grabbed your Warrior book recently when struggling with some new ‘big worries’.

At 6, your son is still learning about his emotions and how to control him. It’s really important that you don’t take his behaviour personally. He’s so young and there is a lot for him to learn. Kids do this at different times. Here is an article that might help https://www.heysigmund.com/anxiety-or-aggression-children/. Be kind to yourself and patient with your son. Give him the information he needs, but know that it’s okay if it takes him time to learn it. What’s important is that he is consistently being given the right messages, praised when he does well, and given the opportunities to do the right thing.

Kerry if your son is self-harming, I would encourage you to find outside support for him. It won’t do any harm and has the potential to teach him many skills that will be great for him moving forward. A counsellor or therapist will be able to help your son find more effective ways of asking for what he needs and being aware of what he needs.

At what point do you suggest more formal interventions in children? such as therapy or meds?

My 8-year-old son sometimes tries self-harm, but always in our presence – so I know he is asking for help. We have tried some things and it has been quiet for 6 months but flared up again. Always when he is angry with himself.

Thank you for your interesting and enlightening article! The solution I found, albeit twenty years ago, was The Option Institute (Sheffield, MA), which had 3-week immersion (self-development) training program for all ages focused around the theme of “happiness”. I gave my anxious brakes-full-on 18-year-old daughter an option – spend part of her vacation at The Option Institute and thus go to the USA with the family or stay in summer school in France. Guess which she opted for! She was profoundly changed by this excellent program, gaining new perspective on life and meeting others with similar (and mostly worse) problems with anxiety. Now that she knows a path to find “happiness” she is willing to go there when things get rough.

Nicole, how is your little man now? (I know, not so little, but still your baby nonetheless!) Is he adjusting well with Zoloft and therapy? What sort of tools has the therapist given him to work with so that he is empowered to face his days? <3

I have kids who have ADD, ADHD, and anxiety. We've tried what you have, but I feel there is more I can and ought to do. Thanks in advance for your input!

Elizabeth

Great job Mom!! Keep it up. It’s really hard being a parent these days. I can imagine how time consuming this all can be. But, you are wonderful for being a loving/understanding mom!