To ask for help with anxious DS

[MonsterKidz]

AIBU to ask for any recommendations or advice on dealing with an anxious 10 year old.

DS has always been a worried child. He likes to know what is happening, does best when there is a solid routine in place, he can be flexible and go with the flow if tis is explained to him/not thrown at him. He worries about social interactions, friendships, if people like him, if he acted in an appropriate way, if he is ‘being good’, if his brother is ‘being good’.

Right now we are going through quite a lot as a family. We had to move unexpectedly just before Christmas and whilst he welcomed this at the time as we moved to the town where the grandparents stay and we have
wry familiar with it, now he is back into school and making new friends etc it seems to be having an impact.

He is outwardly very confident, he hides it well, but at home he is struggling with daily panic attacks/meltdowns and wanting to avoid certain situations and over analysis into every single thing.

We have had previous help from school. I am considering contacting GP and CAHMS for support.

Anyone have book recommendations for kids or parents I could look at or anything you could suggest? I’m desperate really and struggling myself with our unexpected change in circumstances and location. I know this won’t be helping

Appreciate it if you got this far.

I like “hey warrior” as it explain the physical reaction to stress/anxiety and how the brain works. The author, whose name I can’t remover, also has useful info on her Facebook page.

Might be worth looking to see if there is an early mental health service in your area too. Near us there is a service supporting children with needs like this that would meet the threshold for CAMHS

So sorry to hear this OP. Please see a GP or organise private counselling if your child is having panic attacks regularly as that must be quite terrifying. I have had panic attacks before and you feel like you can't breathe a Gap calmly explaining it to him might really help him.

It might be worth reading the book "the highly sensitive child" by Elaine N Aron. It has a list of descriptors which can also be found on the website associated and if it fits your son it may both explain some of his behaviours and also help you to deal with them. My ten year old is similarly a worrier and has other traits of sensitivity such as not dealing with change very well and being more emotional than others when something bad/good happens. He often has physical responses such as tummy aches which we know are because of his emotions. This book is great for helping to make sense of things.