[that_girl]

Hi Ladies. Ive been posting on this board for a while now but this is my first time posting in the "moms of teens and preteens" forum. My daughter is 16 and if she had it her way we'd be in the doctors office or in the ER 3 times a week. She's always convinced that theres something seriously wrong with her and she's been like this since elementary school. We are literally at the doctors office a few times a month and I just can't take it anymore!!! It's driving me crazy! I've tried to crack down these last couple of years but she's still coming up with stuff and demanding I make her an appointment and when I don't I get the "your a bad mom" or the "you don't care about me" crying guilt trip. Last week it was a "torn ACL" which she conveniently came up with after watching a sports show where a guy had a torn ACL (I should mention she was walking/running around on it just fine until she watched this show). Just now she has come down with "strep throat" conveniently right around bed time, but she was of course fine all day while she was hanging out with friends. Is anyone else having this problem?? What can I do to quell this issue before she drives me completely insane??

[ajstout]

A friend of mines son is that way and I understand your frustration. I can't imagine how lonely and out of place she feels to think she has to be ill to get attention. my friends therapist recommended an illness scale meaning 0 is your intreptation of her illness being fake and 10 you know shes not faking. Establish the rule that we all feel ill at times and we still go on. As long as she is under 5 on your scale pamper her with "home remedies" and interest her in illness prevention with herbs and lifestyle. with that said is she bullied or picked on???? were you ill alot when she was little or was she exposed to a lot of illness??? She may have seen someone be made the center of attention that way and uses it to have the limelight on her. I cant stress enough how dangerous this could become and how vital it is to get her in therapy before she gets worse or has children of her own. Once she has kids she could transfer her illness to them and she could have them in Doc office weekly. I am suprised your doc hasnt recognized this and isnt helping her. DONT let her manipulate you the more power she can put over you the less you have be the parent and exert tough love. God Bless and I hope she gets better

[Kierasmom]

It sounds to me like a psychologist would be helpful. She may genuinely feel like something could be wrong with her.