My daughter is 8, and has a high level of anxiety and worry (almost OCD manifestations). For example, if we went to a theme park and she had to ride a ride without me, but with another adult, she would ask up to 10 to 15 times where I was going to be exactly when she exited the ride to pick her up. Then, in the line, she would reiterate over and over to the companion what we had talked about. If there was any suspicion on her part on a car trip that we had lost our direction, she would sob and feel as if we were never going to be safe or find our way again.
At home, she would spend most days playing and then running out in a panic to see if I was still in the house, worried that I had gone outside or “left her”. This was made worse by a door alarm. A simple act such as my taking the trash outside would cause her to panic and scream out, “Mom! Mom!” like a child lost at a park. Things such as earrings not being put immediately back in after swimming would cause her to worry that her ears were going to close and she would feel pain upon getting them back in-so much so that she would choose not to participate. Of course, the usual things-couldn’t sleep alone, throwing up at doctors appointments. All from worry.
It is hard to see your child stress so much at such a young age. For my daughter and my family, this would mean all kinds of accommodations to try and eliminate the fear but that made things worse! I am a divorced parent, and her father would not agree to professional counseling. When I found Turnaround I was relieved, something I could try at home.
I cannot tell you how incredibly, wonderfully excitedly pleased I am with Turnaround. It has been a miracle and that is not an over-exaggeration! My daughter did the first several episodes with me listening too and when each of the kids told their story she could identify strongly with 2 of them. She has big social fears too, about other people talking about her and not liking her. Just hearing the kids and then giving her time to think about and journal her thoughts were so helpful. When we talk together about the talk-backs to fear it helps her realize its all in her head.
So, we did the program and I saw a huge improvement in the amount of worrying just on a general day to day basis. She could go off and play and not worry. I was no where to be found. The big eye opener, though, about CD 6 was when we went to Miami. We took a detour to see Monkey Jungle and my Tom Tom took me down a back road. Frustrated, I let it slip that it wasn’t taking me to the right spot, a usual big no no with my daughter in the car. We did find it, around the corner and when we got there and were getting out of the car my daughter asked me if I noticed how well she did, no crying or getting upset. You know what? She handled it so well I forgot she usually freaked out!! When I told her yes, wow! She told me “I just kept telling myself it was Krank and that all I needed to tell him was to chill dude”. We didn’t even have to get through the whole program and it was having an impact.
So, we are about 3 or 4 month after the program and I see some anxiety coming back around. The nice thing is, she does too! What a blessing to get her well enough feeling so that she knows when she is feeling bad! She tells me, “I need to do Turnaround tonight,” and we start listening to the CD’s again. It helps her regain her perspective and reminds her what to do about her feelings. I couldn’t be more pleased. Allison M, Florida
My daughter is 11 and we have just started to use your program (we are up to Day 4). So far we have worked out that she has all the types of anxiety except for the social one. I have found the parent CD’s to help me a lot and answer a lot of questions and doubts about myself (I am a single mum of two). The important thing is that she says that she doesn’t like the program but every other day she keeps asking to do the next day and has lots and lots of questions about herself and our family. I really think that the program has helped her even if it is only the beginning.
She has tried so hard to try and fight off some of the fears and worries she had a few months ago. She would not even leave the house to go to school because she had so many bad thoughts but she is back at school and doing well. She is very popular and has a lot of friends which have helped her a lot at school and never gave up coming to see her when she was confined to the house. They now have her outside riding her bike and having fun with them – they never tease her or anything if she gets upset – they also are there to help her.
She is now on no medication but she is still seeing her psychologist every fortnight. Hopefully by the end of the program and a little more determination by her to beat her anxiety she can go on being a happy girl again.
Thank you so much for your program it really is making a difference not just in her life but in mine and my son’s life as well. Tracey W, Australia
Turnaround has helped our anxious eight-year old daughter immensely. Among other manifestations of anxiety, for the last year and a half, she has suffered from insomnia, often taking 90 minutes to 2 hours to fall asleep. She would lay in bed worrying about everything from the dog dying to getting school work done properly. Thanks to the relaxation exercises included in the program, she now falls asleep within twenty minutes of getting in bed. We have noticed that her improved sleep has helped her to better cope with her stress throughout the day and has improved her emotional stability over all. Diane
My daughter is 9 years old, and I was so excited to find the Turnaround program for her. Anxiety runs in our family, and I wished I would have had the opportunity to have listened to this information when I was growing up! We had such great conversations at the dinner table, and I was able to even identify my own “color”! What we enjoyed most about the CD’s were the viable tools presented in such an easy format to understand and apply to everyday situations. We feel so much better equipped to work through situations with our daughter in her life, which is a true blessing to her and to our family.
The most helpful thing to us has been “Krank”. I can’t tell you how many times I have told my daughter that Krank is in her head and she needs to get him out! I think the opportunity to relate to other kids who are talking about real life situations that occur in the midst of anxiety is the key. Just identifying it becomes the first step to taking control of your fears and turning them around. Thanks so much for such a great program. I feel like my daughter is well on her way to conquering her fears and turning them into freedom. Kim W
After losing 3 grandparents, the week after another loss I was no longer able to put my daughter on the school bus as she was having what appeared to be panic attacks. Driving her to school didn’t work and I ended up hanging out with her in the school counselor’s office. Every day was a challenge and so I thought maybe I could take her down the road to our old in-home daycare lady where she could see all her friends and board the bus there. That worked as long as my husband took her there at 6:40am on his way to work! If I tried to take her….again she would panic, lock herself in the car, tell me she couldn’t breathe and look panic stricken.
After day 3 of the Turnaround audio CD’s she agreed that I could try dropping her at the daycare; I did so at 6:40am just so my husband would still be home in case she couldn’t separate from me, etc. We talked about Krank (who she cleverly renamed Prank by mixing Krank and her Fear’s name Panic Peter) and the anxiety was lessened a great deal. I can’t tell you how hard I laughed when I heard Krank say something like “Empty yaw Bladda!!!”
I have been able to drop her 2 days in a row and she wants me to drop her again tomorrow. She’s really becoming attuned with her anxiety and how Krank/Prank impacts her. She’s becoming more confident and during her last therapy session, the therapist complimented ‘Turnaround’ – not because she’s seen/heard it ‘yet’ but because she saw a difference in my daughter which after sharing the workbook and some background, she attributes to the program.
Update 12 days later….
Just an update that we are on Day 6 of the program and yesterday my daughter actually told the bus driver to pick her up at her house for school today instead of down the road at daycare. Today was her first day separating from me at our house and getting on the bus with no hesitation. She said ‘I’m scared…but I know I can do it’. A triumphant day for her! We have become quite the Krank & Chill imitators and advocates! Mom from Connecticut