Health anxiety

[ThisLittleLightOfMineee]

My child has extreme anxiety around their health. Any cough or cold can make them convinced that they need to go to hospital and they will demand that I take them. If I don’t (which I don’t, because I don’t believe they need to go), they become extremely angry, distressed and upset.
It can be anything really a stomach ache, cough, toothache, sneeze, etc. They immediately think something is seriously wrong and that they need to be seen urgently at hospital.
I took them to the GP because it’s becoming increasingly difficult to manage, and the GP said there is nothing physically wrong with them. I asked about medication for the anxiety, but was told they can’t prescribe it and that it would need to come through CAMHS.
The problem is CAMHS have declined us and said they won’t help as It’s not a camhs issue.
Has anyone else experienced this with their child? What did you do when the anxiety was this extreme, especially when CAMHS wouldn’t get involved?
I’d really appreciate advice from anyone who has been in a similar situation. They are refusing to leave the house atm because they are ill and constantly ask for medication but no symptoms of any illnesses. (Age 15)

It absolutely is a mental health issue and should be supported as such.

Have camhs said why they won't get involved (even to be put on a waiting list)? You might be able to get support via school if his school has input from a mental health support team - worth asking.

Does your child accept its a mental health problem though? You may be able to persuade them by talking about how stress impacts on the body. CBT is the best evidence based therapy for illness anxiety.

Definitely continue to push.

No they don’t they think it’s all real and believe they are genuinely ill. CAMHS said it’s not something they can help with and to speak to the GP instead

As a nurse I genuinely can’t work out what CAMHS do or what gets through to them. The threshold is so high.

Can you afford private therapy?

No sadly not. I was hoping for medication for her anxiety.

Therapy goes with it though. Where I live there is some free therapy. Have you googled in your local area? Or asked school? I don’t know what anti anxiety meds they prescribe for children. I’ve got friends on propranolol.

She wouldn’t engage with therapy thats why we wanted medication and I wouldn’t be able to get her there. She rarely leaves the house now. 😔 i will try the GP again but they said they couldn’t because of her age maybe once shes 16 they will help.