Help! Why has my son started wetting himself

[neversplitapole]

Hello

just looking for some advice and reassurance.

my son is 8 and has suddenly started wetting himself at school. Every day he has an excuse, but all his excuses are choices he has made because the alternative option didn’t suit him.
I feel lost on how to help him. I’ve tried to speak to him to see if anything is upsetting him, he promises there isn’t.
I’ve tried bribing him with rewards for being dry. I’ve spoken to the teacher to make sure he can use the toilet whenever needed

i Feel like it can’t be a medical issue (he’s never done this before, only for the last month or so) but also feel like if it’s an emotional / behavioral issue I don’t know how to help him stop doing this as he’s unwilling to discuss it. Honestly, he acts like he doesn’t care that he’s doing it and it’s not his problem.

for context he’s never been dry at night. Gp seems unconcerned by this and we have always played this down as he’s an extremely heavy sleeper but now I’m wondering if his body doesn’t have that signal telling his brain to go.
when I asked him how he knows he needs to pee he says it’s when he starts dancing around. But doesn’t seem to have any signs of needing before this

please send me tips on how to break this cycle 🙏🏻

*can kick in

eric.org.uk

@neversplitapole

You need to find another GP or self refer to a pediatrician.

What treatment is he getting for the sleep apnea?

I started wetting myself around that age. For me it was anxiety. I developed a pathological fear of asking for the toilet, using the toilet at school. I eventually adjusted my fluid intake so I didn't need the toilet as much and in secondary school I couldn't go all day.
Has anything changed in the last 6 months?
My sister needed surgery on her face following a fall, my father like uncle was diagnosed with leukaemia, my great gran and cat died which was my first experience of death and my dad was working away and there was an incident where one of his colleagues was involved in essentially fatal accident. It was only after these things started calming down that the anxiety started.

I also wonder if it could be linked to something going on at school - is there any chance he's getting bullied? A new fear of going to the toilet?

Could anything traumatic have happened to him?