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Mon 12 Jun, 2006 12:28 pm
In the last little while my oldest son who is seven has been very emotional. Could it be hormones? There has been some changes in the family dynamics with the arrival of our third son but these emotional out bursts started before the baby was born. He seems so sad and when I talk to him he just tells me that he is tired and that he is having bad dreams about war. We don't let him watch the news because he is very sensitive to this kind of information. Remembrance Day is very difficult for him and he asks lots of questions and sometimes it never ends.
I try to reason with him and tell him that we don't know anyone who is in the war ( the fact is we have friends that our son has never met who are overseas ) but we don't tell him that we know people in the current peacekeeping mission in Kandahar.Should I be getting professional help for him. I don't think I can take anymore crying. It has started to affect the way he plays. Our middle son broke his own toy and the oldest had a crying fit about how it was his favorite toy and that his little brother broke it. I said to him that he shouldn't get so upset over a toy that isn't even his. what should I do??
How old is he? I know that your response tends to have to be tailored to his age and level of understanding.
I think that it would be wise to have your son checked out. First, I think that he needs a checkup by a pediatrician to rule out any physical cause of his problem.
If he checks out, it might be wise to take him to a child psychologist. The idea is, that if he is having emotional problems, that it is nipped in the bud quickly, before it becomes an integral part of his personality. Good luck, and let us know how you are doing!
Sounds as though he is really distressed.
Here is some information that might be of help:
http://www.traumacenter.org/Helping_children.pdf
(I think the war is the trauma for your son...he seems very sensitive...I can remember similar feelings as a little kid re war myself.)
Have a look at the ideas in the paper I have given you the url for....if he does not settle with empathy, reassurance and the chance to express himself about his fears, I would certainly consider some outside help.
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