Comments on The Elmo Wallpaper: Anxiety

This is Owen. Completely. He usually clowns around...

2012-02-03T21:13:16.038-08:00

This is Owen. Completely.
He usually clowns around when he's uncomfortable and anxious, but sometimes he does the opposite, and retreats into that far-away place in his head...and that is terrifying. Every time he does that I die inside, worrying he might not come back out.

I have one who is always down on himself. I can&#...

2012-01-28T17:28:14.165-08:00

I have one who is always down on himself. I can't fix it either. No amount of propping up I do can change what he feels inside. He needs to do that himself.

I heard something recently that really spoke to me...

2012-01-25T08:05:45.830-08:00

I heard something recently that really spoke to me: "We are clumsy and awkward because we are growing" and it came to mind when I read about his contradictions - tall and strong but having accidents at night, introverted class clown, writing to Santa to communicate his brother's list.

I commend you for seeking a counselor to help him develop some coping skills. We are all at odds with this world, and coping skills are what we need most.

I understand to a certain extent, because when my ...

2012-01-24T07:46:22.051-08:00

I understand to a certain extent, because when my son (now age 10) was in third grade, last year, he was exhibiting pronounced social anxiety at school, which was specific to the school setting and he was very stressed and isolated, etc. Long story short, we got amazingly lucky because he outgrew it, and is not showing those problems in his new fourth grade classroom (with a MUCH better teacher). While he was right in the midst of that tough time, I felt so hopeless and at a loss how to help my amazing wonderful boy through his emotional struggle! I was so unprepared, I didn't see it coming. With much coaching and some conferences with his school counselor - and some growing over the summer and gaining confidence and finding a sport (etc) he did indeed outgrow the worst of it. How thankful I am! I know other tough stages are yet to come, however, for which I will be equally unprepared. My heart goes out to you and your boy! I would encourage you to get a hold of all the resources and coaching and counseling you can for him now. They are available in the school (and outside school) One book in particular helped us along -"Helping your Anxious Child - A Step by Step Guide for Parents". It includes real life scenes you can use for coaching, etc. But knowing all along you can't "fix" him (nor should you!) - he can learn some tools to help with the worst of it, at least I hope so.

You described my #1. It hurts when we can't f...

2012-01-23T13:25:49.547-08:00

You described my #1. It hurts when we can't fix it.