I don't know what to say to him when he says these things! When I punish him for something, he says things like 'i'm stupid, wish i was dead'. What do you say to help? Anyone with suggestions or help would be appreciated! I told him today we would start thinking and being positive (i'm in session 3, self talk.) Thanks!

I know what you are feling my daughter dose that to she is 9 yrs old as of last month they took her in at the dr. office and evaluated her . they said that she had anger issues and that she also sometimes dose this for the attention . and that she has an anxiety disorder . so athat was about age 5 or so and last year she went into a state of total panic she is seing 2 dr's and 3 therapist she said there are days where she is fine other days she dont they have her on Zoloft and Zyprexia . If I had the answer to that question I would tell you I just tell her that what do you think we will all feel like if you would die ? and just let her know that she is loved and we are there for her . if you have any answers please let me know thanks and hope and wish you well ..

Hi B Metzler,

When did your son start saying these statements? Just recently or has it been a while? When you hear him say things like I hate myself! I would sit down with your son and ask him why he feels that way? Let him give you an answer and then say to him I understand. Ask him again why do you feel you hate yourself? Let him answer you again. Again say all right. Ask him again why do you feel you hate yourself? Let him answer you again. You say O.K. Keep on doing this back and forth until you see a change in his attitude or a change in his answering to a more realistic answer. When you feel he feels better about himself then you stop. And say end of assist.

After the assist (a healing technique) you can get his attention to look at different things in the room. You ask him to look at the door, point your finger to the door, when he looks at it, say thank you. Ask him to look at the clock, point your finger to the clock, when he looks at the clock, say all right. Keep on doing this exercise with him until you notice a difference in his answering or he might tell you he feel better. Then you stop and say end of assist. In this excercise what you are doing is bringing his attention to the present moment by having him look at things in his environment. These two excercises can help him and help you by having him more in his present moment then him being somewhere else that is why he is saying these things. Let me how you make out. I am sure you will find this very helpful.

Dona Dry

Christinaluck and Dona Dry - thanks for your tips. Next time, I'll spend more time with him to figure out why he says those things. But I get frustrated and angry, and then dismiss it - which I know isn't right. He says these things on and off. I really think it's just low self-esteem. Which I'm trying to work on high self-esteem (being in session 3 on self-talk). The whole family is getting my sermons on it I think it will work in the long run! Thanks again for your help!