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My 8 yr old daughter suddenly afraid of ghosts?

Our 8 yr old daughter recently saw some "spooky" films on "You Tube" with some other kids.  Since then, she will not go to bed at night (normally goes to bed with no trouble before this happened), and before long it's 1:00 a.m. and we finally have to give in and either sleep with her or put her in our bed just to get some rest.  She truly seems afraid.  She cries, almost hysterically if we try to make her stay in her room. We've tried turning on lights, the TV, a fan, and she still questions every little noise or cracking sound she hears.  We have told her repeatedly that what she saw is not real, even logged on to You Tube to look at some of the videos with her.  My husband printed off something from online about how to keep ghosts away, thinking this would help but it backfired because she just insisted that they must be real if there are ways to keep them away.  We've asked her if she's ever seen a ghost in her room (to which she answered no) and tried to make her realize that there was no logical reason for her to be afraid, and that she is afraid of something that doesn't exist, but nothing helps.  She's got it in her head now, and we don't know what to do to fix it.  Is this normal behavior?  I read some of the postings but they were for younger children.  My child is almost 9 yrs old, has always had Halloween birthday parties and even "haunted houses" for a couple of them and had no trouble at all, so why the sudden fear?  Any advice is greatly appreciated.
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Avatar universal
My 7 1/2 year old daughter is going through the same exact thing! What you have written is my life as well. Our patience is wearing thin...I'm so hoping this is a phase and will end shortly..All started in School, that there was a ghost in the bathroom! She has her TV on, 2 lights in her room.,nothing helps she cries uncontrollably..I've done the think happy thoughts etc...count ice crean cones..This is tough road..but you are not alone..I think we have to ride this out and my husband on the couch with her...
Let's keep our fingers crossed :0)
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
I know its not an answer but i want to let you know your not alone. I am going through this with my 7yr old son. I have tried everything and nothing has worked. I dread bedtime...it used to be fun and relaxing...He is afraid of our whole house, kitchen, livingroom, bath room. Wont go anywhere by himself.
If you find a solution please let me know what it is. Its so sad yet frustrating to see your child go through this.
Your post reassured me that im not alone in dealing with this.
Thank you
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
One last thing, try to help your child see happier things too...monitor what they watch on TV and talk to them about what the show is teaching - good and bad.
Get them away from the screen and out into happier experiences such as a play at the beach, a nice park or a theatre show/play/puppet workshop etc suitable for kids (no scary scenes!!)

I've been told as a way of helping younger ones get over fears is to get them to act out or write down their fears- get it out or tell their fears "Go away!",  then act out a happier time and keep things light and happy. No idea of this will work!
Hoping it may!  Good luck and thanks to everyone for sharing! It's helped my mind at least. Cheers for saving my sanity heh
Have a good one
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My 7 year old is going through the exact same! Agh it's so hard.
It's come on so suddenly after all her school life (4 years now) of playing "Zombies", "monsters", "vampire tag" and "baddies-coming-to-get-you" chasey games with the boys.
She knows not to listen to one boys who is known for telling tall tales, but now is listening!
He was afraid last year when an older boy said there was a monster in the toilets, now he's making everyone else afraid.
It's typical kids stuff but it's scaring my little one to the point of no sleep.

So what to do? I keep the lights on, I soothe her and tell her there's no such thing as ghosts, they're silly made up stories and try the "drift away to your special, happy, calm place" and talk her through a happy scene such as a field full of flowers and butterflies or a quiet calm beach or her favourite place of the week (it usually works). It's not working well, but she fell asleep at midnight just gone and hasn't woken yet.

I don't believe in ghosts and am not religious. Science shows that our eyes trick us (think optical illusion books here) - the corner of our eyes pick up white and black and often trick us into believing there's something grey there as well.
When we are tired we are likely to believe there is something black or grey on the road/in front of us. That's a sign to drivers to pull over- they're falling asleep at the wheel! Our brains get bored and invent things.

But what to do?
I do to believe on ghosts but my friend says she sees them and feels spirits - they are her good guides and help her through difficulties or questions.

Ghosts/spirits are a part of every culture and there are stories of ghosts in our culture.
I think the message here is that in each of us and on each member of society there is good and there is bad. We have a choice:
Do good
Or do bad.
We choose to do good kind things and say good kind things and stay light, bright, happy. But we also -as children especially- need to be aware of the bad out there and stick to being good, happy.
I think ghost stories try to point that out and that it's nothing to be afraid of.

If it gets really bad, I'll try the oils, show no fear and try telling her they are good guides and will help you through bad times maybe (although I don't believe it myself).

Hoping they grow out of this soon!!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
ok,  but here is my situation,  my son, while in the care of a friend, allowed the children to watch a show called "A Haunting"  he has been freaked out ever since.  My husband and I watched to see how bad it was..... WAY innapropriate for a 7 year old.   2 weeks and counting of not sleeping in his bed, wont go inside the house while we are on the patio,  makes me go with him to the bathroom etc   HELP>
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i was woundering if ghost can influance how kids behave... we have a 2yr old she just recently started acting out worse than normal.. i'm also aware that we have 3 seprate ghost that r here.....
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Also, A couple of years ago my son was just born, I liven in this apartment, (I hated)
one night both of my children were in bed with me because of a storm. I was having a terrible dream, of hurting my family and then my self, it still makes me sick to think about. I woke up to a grey horribly sad looking man standing over my bed. I checked my children they were ok. I watched this man turn and walk across the hall, and set on my sisters bed. I havent been scared of ghost for years, i understand most, bust this terrified me. I yelled for my siter to get up and come to me. She wouldnt. I set up all night watching this man walk back and forth scared to leave my children. that morning my sister told me of her bad dream about the same as mine. I did the oil thing and never seen him agin Thank God. I found out later the man had killed him self in that buiding and a year later a child died by his fasthers hand. I sincerly hope I sent him away from this plain. If oil and prayers worked for somthing that evil I am positive it will work for you. YOu could put popurri in the oil to make it smell good.
Good luck and my God Be With You
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Ok to all of you ladies, I hate to sound like I know every thing, bu I am somwhat a medium. I can sence things and somtimes see things that are not there. One of my sisters just a few years a go admited she could to after years of calling me crazy. a Quick easy way that works. I know it sounds silly put walk through every room in your house hell so all can hear, Any and All spirits I comand you in the name of Jesus Christ to leave my home, you have no right to be here, In is name I comand you to leave Get some veggie oil, have your family pray over it put some of the oil on your hands and whild saying the lords prayer put it on the threshold of your doors and the very tops. No spirit can cross God. By doing this you are sanctafiing your home. ( Sorry I really cant spell lol) It will work involve your children let them know nothing can hurt them. I have two small children. I know this works. Just try it what have you got to lose. Dont be afraid because your children can sence it, thier scared if your scared.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My son just turned 7 and has always mentioned ghosts in the house. Just recently he has become so terrified and even in the day time he does not like to leave my side because of the ghosts. He was so afraid one night that he was shaking and told me his tummy felt funny then vomitted. I did look up online different ways to keep ghosts away and will try something simple...not sure if I believe any of it.  I have never seen anything but my sister says she saw a female ghost here. A friend suggest making a "potion" of water and scents in a bottle and squirting it around the house before bed time. She says that worked for her daughter and that the daughter could smell the scent when she was in bed and that made her feel protected. I'll try anything at this point.
Helpful - 0
491828 tn?1305319780
Ghost videos can be quite daunting at such a young age. Children are so easily influenced by the enviorment and have incredible imaginations. Watching these videos have obviously affected her and this shows mostly at night when it is dark.
Having a small night light next to her bed and leaving the landing light on (if thats possible) will ease her at night. Also putting on a children's programme that she enjoys before bed will take her mind of off it.
The best solution would be to talk to her and explain that ghosts are not real and that she is perfectly safe in her house. Reassure her that you would let no harm come to her and she should dream about nice things before bed.
Hope this helps :)
Charlotte
Helpful - 0
484465 tn?1532214032
It takes time to get over the "ghosts".  I was going to mention that acknowledging them being there in any way would backfire, but it already did.  
I had watched "Child's Play" when I was younger and never have gotten over my fear of dolls/mannequins.  I am also still afraid of the dark due to other childhood experiences.  However, I did find that me keeping my door open to the hallway, hallway light on, or the light on in my closet helped.  Also, I liked to turn the radio on low and hear the live radio chatter.  It helped soothe me hearing other people up and about while I was to sleep
Helpful - 0
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