Child Abandonment - 3 yr old daughter

by Michelle
(Ontario Canada)

My daughter was a twin premature baby, her twin passed and she nearly passed as well. She was in the hospital until she was six months old.

When she came home her father and I started being on a rocky road in our relationship and we ended up spliting up. I moved in with my parents and he with his until we both got back up on our feet. In result a childrens Aide worker didn't think this was an appropriate environment for a one year old little girl. They took the custody of my daughter and placed her with her grandparents; father's side.

She wasn't fed proper food, neglected by them, in an un clean and unsafe environment. And in this time her father and I decided to work things out and try together to get the custody of our daughter back.

We had joined custody for a while and when we brought her back to her grandparents she balled and didn't want to go back.

Now that we have full custody of our daughter again she cries in her sleep, due to nightmares, is extremely clingy, and doesn't want to leave my side. She cries when I leave the room, misbehaves for no reason when I'm not around, and feels sorry for everything even when she did nothing wrong.

Thanks to this web site I have a pretty good idea that this is due to abandonment issues; but I don't know what to do to help her. Any suggestions?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Heartbreaking~!

Lots of trauma there getting triggered. Her young age makes it challenging. Peter Levine, Ph.D, is the world wide expert. I recommend this CD set to start with.

http://www.soundstrue.com/shop/It-Won't-Hurt-Forever/1579.productdetails?gclid=CKuTs4WPxakCFY0H2god-SxAcw

He provides loads of good help for parents.

much love to you all, may all be well soon
Laura