Please help - 11 year old girl new meltdowns

[Anonymous]

Do a full blood work up

Chart the episodes with her cycle because it could be PMDD

The skin picking and the episodes could be anxiety related. Skin picking could also be OCD. There is an over the counter mineral supplement called NAC that does wonders for skin picking. I recommend starting that either way

I would also look into therapy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like your kid would benefit from seeing a psychiatrist with experience in treating adolescents. Get names from your pediatrician. Call *all* of them. Because I found it was not necessarily easy to find a psychiatrist who was taking new patients. A couple of the people my pediatrician recommended simply did not call back.

For this age there is Dr David Driver’s Heartwood program, Capital youth Services..…The Ross Center. Compass Health Center can take 11 year olds.

Pursue multiple options at once! Because there is great demand for adolescent psych services, which means waiting lists, etc

It may be that your kid needs an SSRI and a therapist to help with the emotional overwhelm. Things like anxiety can exist in a milder form in childhood, and then with the pressures/hormones of adolescence get much worse.

If it gets to the point where there is an emergency, and you feel your child needs emergency care, you can go to an ER. I have only found three places in the area that do inpatient for 11-year-olds: Shepherd Pratt, Children’s, and Dominion. You can basically show up at any of them and they will do an evaluation. Most adolescent programs are geared more to 12 and above. Good luck, and I am rooting for you and your kid, you are not alone in this and I know how distressing it can be.

THIS!!! Excellent advice.

[Anonymous]

Does she have a pre-existing diagnosis?
Agree with the iron check and blood work up. Low iron is very common in girls and can cause behavioral issues.

[Anonymous]

Great suggestions above!

Also focus on being closer to her, don't yell back or try to control her (I know it's hard) but try to just be there for her and let her know you're there. Tell her that you're not mad you just want her to be safe so can she please tell you when she self injures? It's very important for us parents to know so that we can look at the injury and make sure it's not infected etc.

Also idk if she has a journal but regularly going through my children journal and computer helps me to have a better idea of what she's thinking/how I can help.

Also, be very diligent about monitoring her online activity bc there are places online that encourage this behavior etc.


Gosh I'm sad that this is so common and happening to your family but please know you're not the only one. Best wishes.

[Anonymous]

Also -- ASHWAGANDHA!

Amazing for regulating hormones. My child doesn't like taking it but I always make her have some during pms. Everyday would be ideal. You can get in gummy or tea or in a supplement that you sprinkle in other food items. (It a root from India)