DS12 has had anxious traits since birth, but following some bullying and bad experiences after starting high school these have blossomed into full blown clinical anxiety starting just after half term last year. We have been triaged by CAHMS and have taken him to a private psychiatrist and they both agree this is moderate to severe anxiety likely with underlying neurodivergence. They recommended counselling in the first instance with medication (sertraline) as a final resort. He’s been getting good support at school and had been attending a partial timetable and getting CBT-based therapy through a school wellbeing support service. We have also just gone back to a private counsellor he’d had a few sessions with previously, but as part of his anxiety is social he struggled to speak with her. Over the last week he is displaying depressive symptoms as well, saying he feels incredibly sad, that’s he’s worthless, a burden, etc - and that his brain can’t take in information and he can’t do anything. He’s stopped being able to attend school at all. I am beginning to think it may be time to trial the medication, so keen to hear from anyone who has done this - especially for kids of a similar age or for late-diagnosed autistic kids.