If I take DS to the GP to seek help for his anxiety........................................

[cadelaide]

.....can anyone tell me what is likely to happen?

He's nearly 9.

We're reluctant to medicalise it, but I'm running out of other strategies.

You might get a referral to CAMHS (child and adolescent mental health services). With any luck you will see someone sensible who will either offer your ds individual therapy or all of you family therapy depending on how serious/long term the problem is and whether it has started to affect the whole family. There is unfortunately a move towards medicalising childhood distress and re labelling it as mental illnesss or disorder. At this age your ds needs someone to talk to about his fears and worries,and your family need help as to how to best manage his anxieties. What he does not need is medication of any sort at this age. (I am a mental health professional btw) Good Luck

tiredlady, thankyou so much for your response.

I spoke to my HV today and she did indeed say she would speak to someone from CAMHS.

It's such a delicate balancing act, or so it seems. We've been trying to help him ourselves, without turning it into a big thing, but sometimes it seems to me like we're just ignoring the problem.

I'm hoping we'll be given practical suggestions, ideas for how to help him relax, that kind of thing.