Originally Posted by
Scass
So, it’s called a positive doodle diary, and it’s full of spaces to doodle, write a few positives about your day, affirmations and little bits of information about feelings and mental health. It’s aged between 6-12. It’s very cool actually, I wish they did an adults version!
She goes to bed ok, but I tend to stay with her until she’s asleep still at her request.
I kind of went back to basics, no screens for an hour before bed, a bath, the planner, reading, maybe a bit of playing, then bed where we read & chat a bit. I also made sure I was a bit stricter about bed time again as I was starting to let it slide.
With the journal I told her she could keep it secret, or talk it over with me. There’s a space where you can colour in your moods for the day, and I talked through each one she coloured in - but didn’t focus on the negative ones too much.
I think my circumstances are a bit different, because my daughter is/was getting physical symptoms too, and vomiting. I haven’t talked about it on here, but she’s having some tests to find out if it’s something physical, and I am so very anxious about it, but obviously trying not to show her.
I purposely don’t ask her about her symptoms. If they are bad enough, she will tell me or I will notice. I realised a few years ago, that if I kept asking her, I was trying to reassure myself more than her, and I don’t think it was giving her the right message either. So, I really recommend this for you too. Don’t ask her how she’s feeling too much, talk about your own experiences if you like. Above all, empathise, her feelings are real and valid (something we often forget about when talking to each other on here as adults), but also remind her that bad dreams are just dreams, they won’t come true, and she shouldn’t have the same dream again. Remind her she is safe and loved and can talk to you about anything.
Do some things together to brighten both your moods, play some simple games, go for a walk, watch a programme together. Remind her that you and your youngest are ok, and she does not need to worry about any of you.