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Original poster

Social anxiety in teenagers

17 replies

Bookridden · 08/12/2023 20:18

DD is 17 and is studying for A-Levels. She has always been anxious and struggled to make friends. She is happy in sixth form and has a few friends, but is experiencing extreme anxiety around social interactions. She regularly sobs and tells us she can't cope with life. Until now, she has refused help, but she has finally consented for me to speak to the GP.

Will the GP talk to me given she is 17? She is not prepared to talk to them without me there. She is also scared to talk over the phone, and would prefer a face to face appt with me present; is this likely to be doable? Also, what help - if any - will she be offered?

Very worried mum here who would be glad to hear from anyone else who's had a teen with extreme social anxiety.

OP posts:
Snozzlemaid · 08/12/2023 20:26

I went to GP appointment along with my ds when he was suffering with crippling anxiety a little older than that.
I don't think he would have gone if I didn't go with him. I didn't speak but was there for moral support.

Original poster
Bookridden · 08/12/2023 20:53

Thank you. So you mind sharing what happened, and what help he was offered? Did things improve for him?

OP posts:
squeekychicken · 08/12/2023 21:00

It is normal for a parent to go with a 17 year old for support. What will happen next depends on where you live. Ime it's unlikely your dd will meet criteria for CAMHs (unfortunately thresholds are very high). They may offer some other form of therapeutic support and/or medication.

Have you spoken to college? Often they have counsellors/ therapists or access to educational psychologists that your dd could be referred into.

Interested in this thread?

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17 years old Children's health General health
squeekychicken · 08/12/2023 21:01

Things can always improve. She's obvious very resilient as she's attending 6th form, even though she finds it difficult. I think some cbt sessions would be helpful. I recommend a book called 'think good/ feel good' by Paul stallard.

Snozzlemaid · 08/12/2023 23:45

My ds was prescribed Sertraline and had a few CBT sessions.
He still takes the Sertraline now. It keeps him able to function without the crippling anxiety.

Mandy1244 · 09/12/2023 01:56

Hi guys my daughter is 14 and I’m sad to say she’s not been to school In about 9 months maybe a day here and there.. she’s constantly in her phone etc and trust me I try to take it but she becomes so violent I have a younger child to care for aswell.. me and husband work full time and have to leave her in the house because she refuses school. I have tried to take internet from her but she becomes so aggressive I feel really end of my tether

Mandy1244 · 09/12/2023 01:59

By the way I’m first time here so I don’t even know what I’m doing or if I’m in the right group to ask sorry

Mandy1244 · 09/12/2023 02:11

I went threw similar experience other day x

Schoolrefusa · 09/12/2023 02:16

Mandy1244 that sounds so tough, I am sorry. And hope someone has advice as that sounds hard to know what to do . Does she do any form of learning from home? Could she?

our DD (16) has horrendous anxiety and missed school and following this; we have the challenge that she won't talk to the doctor about it with or without me, nor consider counselling .

does Sertraline make a good difference for anxiety ?

Mandy1244 · 09/12/2023 02:23

She refuses to do any kind of home kind of learning she’s also self harming. I’ve been to dr who seems to have flung us aside to be honest . She did say to dr infront of me present that she was self harming but we haven’t been offered any sort of support

whateveryouwantmetosay · 09/12/2023 03:05

Definitely they should. I would also ask for referral to pediatrician.

Derbybound2022 · 09/12/2023 03:13

have you considered whether your girls may be autistic ?

nokidshere · 09/12/2023 04:51

Will the GP talk to me given she is 17? She is not prepared to talk to them without me there. She is also scared to talk over the phone, and would prefer a face to face appt with me present; is this likely to be doable? Also, what help - if any - will she be offered?

Any patient of any age can take whoever they want into the appointment with them. The Dr will ask your child if that's ok with them before allowing you in though.

I have spoken to a Dr on the phone regarding my son too although he had to be there and speak briefly to confirm he was present and give permission for the Dr to speak to me.

mummy182822828 · 09/12/2023 05:04

It will be fine you going with her maybe get ur daughter to write down her struggles on paper thrb gp can read through it

Original poster
Bookridden · 09/12/2023 19:02

Yes, I do wonder about neurodiversity for DD. I have no clue if it's social anxiety or autism and I hope the GP can help.

OP posts:
Octavia64 · 09/12/2023 19:03

I spoke to the GP by phone in a similar circumstance when my DD wasn't able to talk to anyone.

He was very helpful.

Octavia64 · 09/12/2023 19:05

Sorry - she was offered duloxetine and diazepam, the diazepam for a month only.

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