So proud of DD (there is hope!)

[TeenPlusCat]

When the pandemic hit, DD's anxiety went through the roof and depression through the floor. She missed all of y11. As her worst she would hardly go outside even just for a walk around our pavements, and developed a massive fear of being near strangers or anything else 'unclean'.

This weekend she has been able to view a town jubilee celebration from the edge, go to a country fair for a short time, and today try clothes on in a shop - these are all massive steps forward. We are so proud.

Medication, therapy, time, and an awful lot of patience (and heartache).

Best wishes to any of you still going through the worst of it. Keep hoping.

DD has just done her first full week at college, so expected in for 4 days, attended 4 days. (Previous 2 weeks were also no missed time but not expected in so much).

Also she asked to go out for a pub lunch to somewhere she hadn't been before, and coped.

Sorry I missed this, this is so wonderful. Helps me enormously to read positive news about your young teen.thankyou.

She hasn't missed a day in 5 weeks now.
We have adopted 2 guinea pigs from college and she is doing a good job looking after them.
Still exhausted at weekends and evenings.

She is doing amazing, you must be very proud of her and she too should be pleased with the progess she is making.

Continuing good news.

So far this half term we have done something biggish every day.
Therapy, visiting grandparents, seaside, shopping centre.

Last half term any one of these would have needed at least one day's rest afterwards, if not 2.

Hope all of you are managing OK.

@TeenPlusCat that is such good news. DD1 is still struggling with wanting to be indoors. A nurse worked on a 'small steps target plan' for her, which she started with 'walk to the shops'. By the time we'd got to the bottom of what DD1 could actually cope with, the first target was 'walk to the end of the drive' ☹️

DD2 really wants to be more sociable, etc., but only lasted 1½ hours out with friends yesterday, and she's not doing so well with school attendance. I had to collect her early twice last week because she didn't cope.

You give me hope that things can improve 😊

Loved to read this thread, and updates. Really relatable for those that are going through it👍🏼

DD's attendance is only at 75% this academic year, but it has been more due to actual illness this academic year than her depression and anxiety.

What she has done so far this half term was unthinkable even last half term.

Little steps build up over time and hopefully all our C will get somewhere in the end.

Walking to the end of the drive, can move on to walking to the corner of the road etc. DD has done it, yours can do it too.

So lovely to read this: Progress here: Dd14 doing tuition at the library 3 times a week, plus an evening crafts club and next week going into school for a 2 hour art lesson.☺️ In September she was agoraphobic. In October she was walking to the end of our street and running back in a state of panic. Baby steps.

OP I missed this the first time round. Covid hugely affected my dd who was in her gcse year when lockdown started. She had huge mental health issues amongst other things.
She's doing so well now, living at uni and doing all sorts I wouldn't have dared dream of two years ago.
Well done to your dd.

Lovely to read. Well done

My 15 year old son is having a mental health crisis at the moment and its absolutely horrendous for him and all of us at home. Thank you. I need some hope.

@smartiecake So sorry to hear that. Is he getting help? Is he GCSE year?

Yesterday DD walked alone to our small town/large village (along paths she wouldn't touch for a year or more), into Waitrose (which she didn't go into for more like 2 years), held a shopping basket in her hands (!!!) bought 4 items (including flowers for me ) and home again.

OK, so this was on top of a bad college week only 1/4 days attended, but continuing progress.

My phone is so glitchy typing on the MN website! Argh!

He is year 11 although he hasn't been to school since before half term, he isn't well enough and I can't see him returning the way he is at the moment sadly.

He is on a camhs waiting list. We have paid to see a Psychiatrist privately and he started a low dose of sertraline two weeks ago but we haven't seen any effects yet. Still waiting on camhs and have little hope they will even see him. I'm desperate. He also has autism which complicates everything and makes it harder.

Its good to know that others have been here and it has got easier.

My DD is on fluoxetine and it was a real game changer. Once she was on the right dose it gave her energy to start a limited amount of work again and to better access therapy. You may need 2 months to see a difference, and more to get the dose right, so don't lose hope

However I know Autism in the mix makes it much harder.

My DD got 4 GCSEs at grade 3 because we were in the teacher assessed year and she got good enough to sit a few assessments at home. She's now in her second year at college on a Level 1 course. The world doesn't end if they don't get GCSEs even though it feels like it when you have a y11 not at school.

This is so great! My daughter has really suffered post Covid, though to a lesser extent. Her anxiety is based around routine and familiarity so year 11 is difficult right now! Teachers strikes and other changes not helping (I'm a striking teacher before anyone jumps on me. I don't blame them!)

Luckily she has a pretty serious hobby from pre Covid that has kept her grounded though as it was off for 18 months due to Covid and venue closing it was touch and go whether she'd return!

I've found it's the tiny things that count. Things other parents (or my other children) take for granted. Even just suggesting a meet up with her friends is often beyond her and the other day she suggested they all go on holiday together this summer! (Not sure if that will actually happen, I think she's convinced that once year 11 finishes she'll be magically better!)

I'm so happy for your Dd.

I always say to mine that she is the most resilient person I know as she suffers constant set backs and panic attacks yet she's still getting up everyday and trying to "do life".

I think some of our DC are far more resilient than those who sail through.
It takes more courage to feel the fear and do it anyway, than to not be scared/anxious.

Plus my DD has had a ridiculous amount of stuff in her life to cope with, starting with going into care before she was 1 (we adopted her).

So good to read these positive stories.

My ds anxiety around school started in year 7. He ended up moving schools but it wasn't that simple.

He has support through camhs which was hard to get because he's also autistic. To complicate things further he also has a rare neuromuscular condition.

Things haven't been easy but he now swims (he's a para swimmer) and is swimming at the World Series in Sheffield next week.

When I think back to the 11yo who wanted to end it all I can't believe how far he's come.

He still has anxiety but he has learnt to mainly manage it and we balance those big events with lots of downtime.

Yes down time is so important here too. Dd can't do 2 big days on a weekend, it's either one or the other or neither!

We've gone part forwards and part backwards here.

Backwards, the anxiety in the evenings has got worse, needing the propranolol every night again.

But forwards DD has done some fantastic work towards her GCSE maths resit this holidays, she clearly can do the maths if only she has the confidence and stamina. She has also continued with going into shops and other similar things.

Wishing your dd all the best for her resit @TeenPlusCat

Anxiously waiting to see if dd makes it back tomz after a half term off with MH issues. Lovely to read the stories of hope here. ❤️

DD has done two mini multi choice exams for her level 1 course, and passed them both first time. They get 3 attempts (the system really wants them to pass!) but we're delighted she got them first attempt as it frees up focus for the GCSE maths (still some assignments to do on the L1 course though) Hopefully it will help her self confidence, though she is still unable to admit to feeling proud of herself.

Has your DD made it back in @HeBeaverandSheBeaver ?

@TeenPlusCat is great that she's passed first time! Do you have a plan for September yet?