How can I help my daughter?

[Cat]

This is my first post her as well as my first time to this site. I was thrilled to find it and I hope I can get some feed back.
My mother and I both have reason to believe that my daughter(6) is suffering from a past life trauma. (Long story which I will post another day) Anyways, it is based on her losing her mother (who we have been told by a psychic was her grandmother) in another life during a war. She often pretends she is a kitten, puppy, etc. who has lost its mother and needs a new home. We have recently moved (for the first time in her life) and since that time she often cries at night for reasons she doesn't know. She does not like to be alone (especially at night) and we have struggled for years to get her to sleep at night. We talk often about her day to day life and there doesn't seem to be any relevant problems in her day to day life that could be causing this. She didn't leave any friends behind with this move. She is still in the same school. In fact she has more friends in her new neighborhood now to play with.
I'm wondering how to approach the subject with her and try to help her resolve these emotions. Any ideas or advice?

 

[LeighJarvis]

Cat,
This all sounds pretty typical of children actually. (I'm 36 and I don't like to sleep alone.) Especially in a new house I can see why she would feel insecure at night.

If you can't be with her until she falls asleep maybe a transitional object like a stuffed animal or doll might help. I would probably also leave a light on for her or tuck her in a little early and let her read or play in bed for a while so she has something nice to associate with bedtime.

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What good would one lifetime be? Give me plenty and make me strong and wise and true through them. Life is meant for learning and the Earth is my playground...though my soul is never far from Home.

 

[catseye]

I feel for you. I know how traumatic a childhood phobia can be. I can only imagine how frustrating it must seem to you to be unable to 'fix' the problem and heal the scar.
I don't know if you have ever tried to discuss with your daughter just how she feels alone in bed, or what she is afraid will happen. Perhaps if you could get a handle on the past trigger, you may be able to show her that it can't happen to her here and now. (Like an airplane dropping a bomb and taking down the house during the war or something). I would go with the transitional stuffed animal, but I think I would add soft relaxing music to help lull her mind into a comfortable state. CLANNAD has some pretty good tapes.
The most important thing is for you to reassure her that you will not leave her, and that she will never truly be ALONE!
I don't know if this will help at all, but good luck.
catseye