How do I deal with my 12 yr old daughters fear of being left or lost?

Question

Around the time my daughter was 5 or 6 she started to show these fears. Even with me in or around the house she would freak out if she couldn't find me. In public situations such as the grocery store or swim meets she didn't want me to leave her side. She grew out of this around 8 or 9. Recently it has started again. She won't go to the bathroom by herself in a public place even if I am right outside the door. She's afraid to be upstair by herself even if I am downstairs. I have never left her alone at home or anywhere in pulic, other than school or swim practice. Even that is an issue. We've had to make her go and deal with it on her on. Once she's gone a couple of times she seems to get over it. Nothing traumatic has happened to her. I really don't know how to help her. Nothing we do or say seems to help. We got her a cellphone so she can always be in contact with us, but that hasn't helped.

Answer 1

Sometimes you just have to expose kids to being alone. I am also monophobic (fear of being alone. Learned that in reading last week) and I learned that if there's nothing to be scared or worried about, why be scared of worried. Just help her out of thinking something bad will happen.

Answer 2

I think she needs to see a conceller about insecurity issues....

Good luck to you

Answer 3

get her checked out for social anxiety.   It can be treated, expecialy while she is young.

(It does not take anything traumatic to cause social anxiety, and it is not your fault).

Answer 4

that happened to me.... im 11 and never grew out of till i was 9 then what my mom did was stay at school with me and everywere till ste kept emmbarassing me and everything so then i didnt want her coming so she got me a track phone and would text me every 5 minutes so i would know someone didnt take her or me..

Answer 5

i seen a show where signs like this led to OCD. talk to ur family doctor and bring up the OCD thing to see what they say.

Answer 6

Maybe something happened to her with an old boyfriend of your's or something that she doesn't want to say about?