Worried about preschool separation anxiety? Is your child starting playgroup or nursery in September? Concerned how he or she will cope with leaving you? Homeopathy could help.
I received this lovely feedback from the Mum of a young child I saw recently for homeopathic treatment for preschool separation anxiety:
“I (and everyone else) cannot believe the change in Toby. He is like a different child. So confident, settled and generally happier all round… It’s amazing!”
Some anxiety about starting playgroup or school is to be expected, so if it is just mild nerves on the first day or the day before, you could try choosing a homeopathic remedy yourself to support your child. (See below)
For some children, however, the worry about starting at a new preschool or school can be overwhelming and start weeks before the beginning of term. Symptoms can include behavioural problems such as aggression or clinginess, digestive upsets, headaches and problems sleeping, sometimes with nightmares.
If your child is like this, treatment from a professional homeopath could make a big difference. It could help your child to handle the stress in a more balanced way and make the run up to the first day feel much less daunting for them and indeed the whole family.
Remedies to try yourself for short-lived preschool separation anxiety
You can use homeopathic remedies yourself to help youngsters with minor anxiety a day or two before starting playgroup or school. To choose the best remedy, you need to take into account your child’s individual characteristics. Here are just a few remedies with a description of the sort of child for which each might be useful. If anxiety starts to mount, try a dose in 30c potency. .
Argentum nitricum: a child needing this remedy is hurried, with lots of fears and anxieties, always asking “what if….?” Physical symptoms may include loud wind, diarrhoea and twitchiness.
Lycopodium: this child lacks confidence and doesn’t like doing new things at the best of times. At home, however, they can be assertive and bossy. Physical symptoms include bloating, eating little and often, and heartburn with sour burping.
Gelsemium: this child is weak, wobbly and very frightened before an event they are worried about. Their legs feel like jelly and they forget what they are supposed to say or do.
Pulsatilla: this is a major remedy for separation anxiety in young children. The child needing pulsatilla is clingy and tearful. They need lots of reassurance before they set off for their first day at preschool or school.
You can buy these remedies from a homeopathic pharmacy, such as Helios.
Treatment from a homeopath
If you are unsure which remedy is most suitable for your child, if they are becoming anxious well ahead of the new term or if anxiety persists beyond the first week of term, I would suggest you book an appointment and I would be pleased to try and help your child. If you’d like to ask some questions before committing, you are welcome to email me or book a free call.