Unhelpful GP and DD’s anxiety

[YettaTessieMarmelstein]

I took my 11year old DD to the GP today because of her anxiety and possible depression. She had over-inflated guilt over things, has trouble sleeping because she is worried she will stop breathing, worries that no one likes her, had a panic attack on holiday last week when she couldn’t breathe, lacks energy, and is often in tears over things.
The GP said they don’t do anything for children under 16, told DD there is nothing wrong with feeling anxious, told her to read up on it and to go away and think about it.
I am really angry. No advice, no help, nothing. And I don’t believe her that nothing is done for kids.
We have ordered a book abc downloaded the Headspace app. Any other advice would be excellent.

Unfortunately, unless the anxiety is manifesting in a life-threatening way, there is often no help available due to CAMHS being drastically under-resourced - it shouldn't be the case but it is. That is not to say that there isn't help available for under 16's, but all too often it's down to parents being able to pay for it.

The GP was unhelpful, correct in the sense that feeling anxious at times is natural, but still unhelpful given that her anxiety is already manifesting as panic attacks.

You may find the Young Minds parent helpline a useful resource:

Young Minds' free parent helpline - 0808 802 5544 (mon-fri 9.30-4pm)

Andro has given you some excellent advice already. I would also try her with this book and you might find Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents might help you too.

I know you say she lacks energy and but you probably know already that exercise can help? Does she do any sports or activities? There is a tween yoga c,ass near to us. Do you think something like that would be useful for her?

Thank you. I ordered that book after we saw the unhelpful dr. She has read it and has been talking about some of the strategies she thinks will help.
I’ve been making an effort to get her up and out for a walk in the morning which seems to be helping too.

I’m so glad that the book and the walks are helping OP.

There’s a good Preteens section on MN if you fancy coming over and having a chat with some other MNers with Preteens. It’s such a difficult age in some ways but they are so lovely in others

Is she year 6 or year 7?

Dd2 has bad anxiety. However there was more help once she got to secondary school. But she's just been referred to CAHMS for the third time. First time was urgent and it took 3 months to get to the top of the waiting list. This time we've been told CAHMS is at crisis point and as she's non-urgent there will be a very long waiting list.

However the GP did recommend a website:
www.moodjuice.scot.nhs.uk which apparently is helpful. Maybe check it out with your dd.

She is starting secondary school next month.
We have started taking fifteen minutes to speak about everything that is worrying her. She is confessing lots of minor bad behaviour to me and says this helps. (Eg accidentally swearing etc) Her guilty conscience is enormous. I’m hoping she will get to a point when her worries can be brushed aside until our nightly 15 mins.