Hi all
I'm a very tearful mum who could do with some advice.
My 11 year old son is usually the most chilled happy boy in the world. For the last week he has been feeling sick in the mornings and begging not to go to school.
It started with him saying he was worried to go to the toilet at school because if other kids find out you had a poo you'd be bullied. He said he didn't think he could hold it all day. I spoke to the school and they offered him a code word he could say to his teacher and they would give him a chore to do to leave the classroom and use the toilet in the welfare room.
It's since moved on to him saying he just feels worried but doesn't know why, that he hates himself and feels fat.
Hes not worried about Sats is actually way too clever and I have drummed into him from an early age that he doesn't need to worry about them. He's adament he's not being bullied and that nothing has happened.
Today he had a full blown panic attack at home and I kept him home waiting for a call from the gp. The school advised I did this.
Anyway what do I do? Should I be cruel to be kind and force him in tomorrow?
I feel heartbroken for him and the thought of him being sad at school all day which he was last week is horrible.
I start a new job next week and I really need to get him back into routine but I just don't know what to do. I feel selfish for even thinking about this.
He has a gp appointment tomorrow but the counselling waiting list is long and I can't find a private one.
Anyone who is out the other side of this and anything you've found that helps?
I got him a book when he had slight anxiety a couple of years ago called don't worry be happy and it really helped but he's too old for that book now.
Tearing my hair out I want my happy little boy back.