DD is 15, she has ASD and Dyspraxia. She has always found school and life in general very difficult. About 3 years ago she had a somatic illness during which she was unable to see, although there was actually nothing wrong with her eyes. Eventually, her sight returned. She has been well supported in the school she is now in (which changed after the vision issues) but she started complaining of feeling ill. This went on for some time, GP examined her, said it was likely to be somatic and she was suffering from anxiety. When I begged him, he agreed to refer her to CAMHS - we have an appointment in late March and are on the cancellation list. School have put her on a part time timetable focussing on the core subjects. She is still struggling with this - feels terrible, is having panic attacks in lessons. At home, she just sits around, she can't concentrate either at home or school and keeps begging not to have to go. I don't think the anxiety is related only to school as I have seen her getting more and more anxious in other situations. She doesn't have any friends. Yesterday, she was due to go in for 4 lessons, she was feeling so bad I kept her home. Today, she only has 1 and I am making her go in.
Sorry this is turning out to be so long, but I am at my wits end. What I am asking is am I doing the right thing insisting she continues to go in or should I beg the GP to sign her off sick until the CAMHS appointment. My reluctance (apart from the fact GP is very unhelpful) is that if she doesn't go to school at all, it will be even more difficult for her to go back. I think school would agree a further reduction in timetable but this will mean she has more catching up to do, which I do not think she is capable of to be honest.