Ds1 is extremely anxious. He always has been and it is getting worse. Lots of separation anxiety and needing routine to be kept too. He has panic attacks fairly regularly about imagined potential disasters. Lots of things are too scary.
He is generally emotionally immature and still has toddler like tantrums. DS2 who is 3 is less emotionally labile and not anxious!
We know he has mild dyspraxia and moderate dyslexia, which are making school quite a challenge, but he does seem happy at school. Good friendships. It is the one place he can be left within dh or I. Teachers are reporting a lot of anxiety in the classroom, rushing work, doing odd things which turns out to be to avoid upsetting the teacher, not trying things/volunteering in case of being wrong or not being able to do it. He is underperforming compared to his potential due to the anxiety.
We have tried
- Lots of reassurance and positive talk
- Occupational therapy - focussing on reducing sensory overload and ways to calm down if stressed (he has a couple of calming down options for use in the classroom)
- Mindfulness - he hated it
- Yoga - ditto!
We took him to a clinical psychologist last summer (age just 7) but she said he couldn't or wouldn't articulate much to her and she didn't think he was 'ready' for therapy. He was happy to play but not in a way that gave useful info.
Any other ideas? Or just anyone been through this and it has got even slightly better?!