What are your thoughts on medication for extreme social anxiety?

[chuffinalong]

Hi, my 13 year old daughter has learning difficulties and is on the waiting list for an autism assessment. She has severe sensory issues and social anxiety. She has got so much worse as she's got older and now, she very rarely leaves the house unless it's for school or to visit her grandparents houses. Even at her special school, she isolates herself as much as possible by eating her lunch in the classroom and not going outside to play. We took her on holiday to a theme park for 2 days about 6 months ago, and she found it very stressful. She really enjoyed the rides and being in the hotel, but at the end of the day, she was sobbing uncontrollably, and couldn't tell us why. We prepared her so well, watching YouTube video's over and over, we made sure she had ear defenders and a bag of sensory toys etc.
We have booked to go on another short holiday, similar to the last one, but this time, I'm wondering if there is anything the doctor would prescribe, to help her with her anxieties so that she can relax more and enjoy herself? It's come to the stage where, I'm so aware that she misses out on so much, and although I do my best, it never seems quite enough to enable her to relax. I don't really like the thought of medication, but I do feel that I'm willing to try anything to enable her to relax and have an enjoyable time. Thanks. :-)

[chuffinalong]

bump

[pannetone]

My DD (also 13, ASD, selective mutism, anxiety) does take medication. She was 9 when it was prescribed- and not managing going out or school. It has helped - as did a move to a special school for 2 years - but it’s not a cure. DD is still anxious.

I think you have to make the call on things like the theme park break whether your DD is getting enough out of it, to make up for the times of overload - that sounds why your DD was so upset at the end of the day.

[chuffinalong]

Thank you I will ask her doctor weather she recommends anything. My daughter hardly ever wants to leave the house, but is always very excited at the thought of holidays! Even though she finds it hard when she gets there, she must feel that it is worth it.

[Vibe2018]

If the doctor recomends it then I would let her take it.

I had bad social anxiety as a child but not as bad as what your daughter has. I never had any treatment for it back then but as an adult I have really benefited from anti-anxiety medication. I wish I had been able to take it back then - it would have made things a bit easier.

Even if there are some managable side effects, I can't inagine things could be much worse for your DD than they are now.

[pannetone]

I should probably have said my DD was and still is prescribed medication by her doctor (child psychiatrist) at CAMHS.