hi all.
this has happened a number of times within the past year. my daughter, who is now 3, has woken into what develops into a very fearful state. we share a bed, so i have been very close to her physically each time. thanks to the moon or a reading light, it has always been light enough for us to see clearly. anyways, in each instance, she would wake and call for "mom" in a rather calm voice. i would respond telling her i was right there. but when she looked at me, she would become more distressed and call again for "mom". i would reassure her, but by this time, she would be very upset (crying/scared), pulling away from my reach and saying "NO! *my* mommy!"; as if i were a stranger in her bed. she truly did not recognize me. the fear in her eyes brought tears to mine. in each instance, i had to physically pull her (with some force as she was doing her best to stay away from me) into my breast. (i was afraid to let it go further, i can't tell you how fearful she was). it was not until she was close in nursing that i felt her muscles and fears finally relax into this reality. once again i was her mom.
to my knowledge, she has never had any nightmares. and this was different to begin with; for instead of becoming more calm as she came to touch with her surroundings and myself, she became increasingly more upset. if it happens again, i hope to have the opportunity to ask her about it after she relaxes a while.
is she perhaps not coming completely out of a very vivid dream/rememberance? has this ever happened to anyone else?
peace to all.
jen
this has happened a number of times within the past year. my daughter, who is now 3, has woken into what develops into a very fearful state. we share a bed, so i have been very close to her physically each time. thanks to the moon or a reading light, it has always been light enough for us to see clearly. anyways, in each instance, she would wake and call for "mom" in a rather calm voice. i would respond telling her i was right there. but when she looked at me, she would become more distressed and call again for "mom". i would reassure her, but by this time, she would be very upset (crying/scared), pulling away from my reach and saying "NO! *my* mommy!"; as if i were a stranger in her bed. she truly did not recognize me. the fear in her eyes brought tears to mine. in each instance, i had to physically pull her (with some force as she was doing her best to stay away from me) into my breast. (i was afraid to let it go further, i can't tell you how fearful she was). it was not until she was close in nursing that i felt her muscles and fears finally relax into this reality. once again i was her mom.
to my knowledge, she has never had any nightmares. and this was different to begin with; for instead of becoming more calm as she came to touch with her surroundings and myself, she became increasingly more upset. if it happens again, i hope to have the opportunity to ask her about it after she relaxes a while.
is she perhaps not coming completely out of a very vivid dream/rememberance? has this ever happened to anyone else?
peace to all.
jen