BAD separation anxiety out of nowhere

DD is 3 and has been in daycare since 6 weeks old. She is fantastic and never cried at dropoff, and still doesn't. She's always been great at library classes and other things, but recently she has been having the worst panicky episodes. Normally i run out of the house and put my work bag, her lunch box, and her backpack in the car before running back in to grab her and put her in the car. She refuses to be left in the house for those 2 seconds and FLIPS out. She won't let me run out to grab the garbage can, the mail, anything.

She had a freak out at dance class last week because the door used to be left open, but starting last week they closed it. She loves one of our usual babysitters too, and i told her she would be coming next weekend and she has been crying and bringing it up ALL THE TIME now because she doesn't want me to leave.

Idk what to do anymore. Is this normal for a 3 year old, and it is normal that it just like happened out of thin air?

BAD separation anxiety out of nowhere

Normal...
They go through faces

BAD separation anxiety out of nowhere

i just can't deal with it anymore. Today was dance class again, she figured out how to open the door so in the middle of having a full blown panic attack she opened the door and worked up all the other kids so now all their moms hate me basically

I had to sit in the room for the dance class and tried to sneak out once or twice while she was busy and not paying attention. Every time she noticed, she got in a crying fit and ripped the door open. There are like 20 kids in there, many of which are younger than her, and I'm the only one who has to freakin sit in there with her.

I don't even know if I should feel bad anymore, or put her in time out because i feel like she's purposefully doing this now.

BAD separation anxiety out of nowhere

Is it all the time or just at dance? What do the teachers say? I think if she is a meltdown I would just skip out on dance that day. Also is it possible she is coming down with something. I feel like my kids act that way alt when they are getting sick or really tired. Hang in there, momming is not easy...

BAD separation anxiety out of nowhere

I think it's normal. Please don't ever punish your child for anxiety. It's something out of their control, and often to us, completely irrational. But no one, especially a child, wants to feel that way. My son, who is now almost 8, went through the exact same thing you are describing at 4 and a half. I actually posted on here about it too (http://www.lifamilies.com/chat/topic-anyone-deal-with-bad-separation-anxiety-in-a-4-5-year-old-881275-1.html). It was a very difficult phase, for him and for us, but it was thankfully just a phase. It lasted about 2-3 months for him. We had to just do our best to get through it, as frustrating as it could be. We talked things through with him whenever we were going somewhere, we explained we would be back and when, and always had to make sure to be early to pick him up because if whatever activity he was doing ended and he didn't immediately see one of us, it sent him into a terrible anxious spiral. He's a sensitive child and always has been, and I know he feels things more deeply than I can understand, so I always try my best to honor and respect what he is feeling (as difficult as that can be!), while trying to help him through it. It's not easy, sending hugs!!

Re: BAD separation anxiety out of nowhere

Re: BAD separation anxiety out of nowhere

Re: BAD separation anxiety out of nowhere

That's great that the chart seems to be working! And awesome that she is already taking initiative with it! My son also used to get super anxious going into crowds when he was going through this phase. I would just keep reassuring him that I wouldn't go anywhere that he couldn't see me without telling him. Halloween was not an issue for him that year.