Anxious 10 year old at my wits end

[Trynabeagoodmum]

I have a 10 year old daughter who in the last month has deteriorated so fast with anxiety. Shes out of school now 3 weeks l dont know when she will go back.. she has extreme nausea when shes anxious. The GP gave me anti nausea meds, but they dont really work. Shes also on melatonin to help her sleep. She wont leave the house or even set foot in the car. Her school are sending home books next week.. Her anxiety is terrible at night. Im just wondering if anyone has any experience of this?... did you go to a therapist? If so which one a psychologist or psychiatrist? I just want to help her its awful watching her suffer so badly

Had something triggered this? Has she always been anxious?

I would go on this website: therapist aid and download the free resources on anxiety for children- they are great

www.therapistaid.com/therapy-worksheets/anxiety/children

Here’s the link, the worksheets are free

She was ill for two weeks with a virus before that she had little bits of anxiety but now its off the scale... she wont eat either its impossible to get food into her... thanks so much for this l really appreciate it

I would make a calm me down poster with her, when she’s anxious she can work her way through the techniques of how to calm down- could be the breathing square, the imagine your favourite place- what can you see, hear, smell, count backwards from 50; listen to music etc

Can she explain what’s causing her anxiety? Health anxiety? Avoid having the news on/radio on in the car. Is she anxious all the time? Or ok then having a panic attack?

What are school offering as support?

If you can print off the resources from that link- they are great, ones got a progressive relaxation script; ones got mindfulness for kids etc

I’ll screen shot them

These

And these

And this

Does she have emetophobia?

If this manifested somewhat quickly and extremely following a virus have you considered PANDAS?

I just did that l screen shot them all thanks a mil

Thats the vomiting phobia l did think.of that too she may have. Im not sure how to ease what shes feeling

I will take a look at that online lm trying everything l can at the moment

Have PMed you.

There is also a Child mental Health board here which you may find helpful.

There is such a strong link with anxiety and gut health, can you see if a good diet with prebiotics and probiotics help, this has transformed our ds. He used to have complete panic attacks and strange anxieties out of nowhere that would change and be hard to keep tabs of, and now he’s incredibly easy-going and happy and relaxed.

Medication takes at least a month to 6 weeks to start taking effect. It’s horrible to see your child go through this.

I thought PANDAS too, that seems a very dramatic downturn after a virus.

Im not sure l keep asking her whats worrying her and shes says she doesnt know... at the moment shes afraid of everything and if l push her.. her anxiety gets so bad with severe nausea... so now she wont leave the house lm demented

@Grimbelina

I thought PANDAS too, that seems a very dramatic downturn after a virus.

Me too.

Does a GP prescribe anxiety meds?

Thanks TMT x

@Trynabeagoodmum

Im not sure l keep asking her whats worrying her and shes says she doesnt know... at the moment shes afraid of everything and if l push her.. her anxiety gets so bad with severe nausea... so now she wont leave the house lm demented

Try not too worry too much yourself (haha!) as that will feed her worry too.

She has gone down rapidly but also kids can recover rapidly too.

When you say you are 'demented' - what do you mean?

There could be a gut link. I'm not a particularly anxious person but I had gastric problems for a while (side effect of endometriosis) and I had this awful free floating anxiety not actually connected to anything.

Hope things improve soon.

School is just gonna say what they are covering and l will do the work with her.. we are starting Monday not looking forward to it

Just stressed and worried all the time l would prefer to have it ten times worse myself