12 year old son anxiety - can't cope!

[Jumpinginwithbothfeet]

My son has had anxiety for 5+ years now plus emetophobia. He has frequent panic attacks, violent outbursts and is now school refusing. We've been through CAHMS and had online CBT and on the waiting list again for them now. Paid for a private psychotherapist which did not help. I dont know what else to do and am now really struggling. Any suggestions?

Is he on any medication?

We are in the same boat but a year younger. The violent outbursts have stopped as we have both learnt how to manage (give him space, the signs one are coming and how he controls) anxiety is still there around food in particular amd school refusal not being since ajune

Very sorry to hear about this OP, it can be a struggle to know how to deal with anxiety, especially if he’s violent when anxious. DS is 13 and also extremely anxious due to ASD. What sets off his anxiety?

fluoxitine was the only thing that helped here with my DS, he had got progressively worst ending in complete autistic burnout, violence and depression at 9yrs old.
He has a great child psychiatrist who prescribed and monitors him, he is now thriving, happy and coping well with secondary school ( ASD provision)
if you had told me years ago that medication would be required I wouldn’t have believed you but it saved him.

My son was on setraline at 12 for similar reasons. Now 17 and has been off them for over three years and appears to have a bright future.

Medication is the only thing that helped my DS when he was like this. Have they ruled out Neurodiversity, because there is a link between autism and lower seratonin level? My DS has sertraline and it has saved his life and he is now engaging fully in society again.

Hes not on any medication as we can't seem to get to a consultant. Just keep getting palmed off. School have suggested a neurodiversity referral but I believe the waiting list is horrendous.

We had an accelerated route to medication as we were advised by 111 to go to a&e in the middle of the night (panic attack) where he was assessed by a child psychiatrist who was available due to it being the middle of the night. He didn’t get prescribed there and then but it did help speed things up. Private diagnosis and prescription is also an option. I wouldn’t wait tbh

We had to go private too, worth every penny. If money is tight DLA can help with the cost.

I'll have a look into a private psychiatrist. Thank you x

Yes he probably needs medication just to ease the situation

Forgot to say, join the
not fine in school
group in Facebook, it really helped me when times were tough just to chat to lots of other parents in the same situation. You can feel like it’s your fault and you are alone but you are not xx

@Scrambledchickens thank you 😊