Parents of anxious kids/teens support thread(part three)

[Stilllivinginazoo]

Filling up a second thread,here's a new one to keep that support running!

This thread is a supportive,non judgemental space for those who have anxious children,or care for children with anxiety

You can pop in and just offload,or stick with us and share ideas etc

Caring for an anxious child can feel like it dominates your existence and drains every last drop of energy you have,and the sadness of watching your child's distress can be overwhelming.only those who have lived it truly understand that

We also love to hear successes.it can be hard in real life sharing something you are proud of your child achieving if others do it as standard.we get that and it's good to have somewhere where people are pleased for those little wins

You are no longer alone

Dolly you can get seamless socks. DD2 uses them all the time and DS1&3 have some for high sensory days. We get ours from sensory smart.

They also sell underwear but we haven't personally tried them because DS' are OK with the right type of normal trunks/boxers. They do tights as well, but they aren't completely seamless.

Many girls find boys underwear and t shirts more comfortable too.

day/hop yes it's mohdoh.ds finds smell too much,but dd2 loves calming one and relaxing one
We also find barefoot on grass helps soothe dd2 when she's highly stressed and she likes to fiddle with things so has selection stress toys.current faves are peas in pod that semi pop out,a large ball if elastic bands,tangle,and mesh balls

Day I would complain about the appointment. Such a mix up for a child who finds change stressful isn't acceptable.

As well as your GP or relate sometimes local carer's services offer free counselling. Start with this from your posts.

continuously flat, don’t feel I can ever enjoy anything properly
my mood down
Just feeling really wobbly. Angry, sad, worried- everything. Just want to cry
I’m all over the place

Zoo DD2 sounds hugely sensory seeking. Has she got a weighted blanket?

day if it's a means to an end,i would.maybe you can amend how you respond to things you find upsetting

Day CBT can help with feeling low and unable to cope. I would accept the offer. DS' recovery is in the early stages, you can't go on feeling how I quoted in my pp or you will burn out and breakdown. Talking things through with someone independent and time to focus on you may help.

Applying for PIP for DS would free up some money if you did want to go private. You should apply for PIP either way.

Zoo For children they shouldn't be more than 10% of their body weight. For adults it doesn't matter quite so much if it is slightly over or under.

Have you applied to Family Fund? They give grants for sensory equipment. I'm not sure the company they use do weighted blankets but they do other sensory toys/equipment. Family Fund do other grants too - kitchen appliances, computers, holidays, furniture, clothing, games consoles/outside toys/books etc.

Thanks for asking about DS, he's had a rubbish day. His chest sounds rougher and blood sugars high. He cried all the way through physio this evening so now I'm mean mummy for making him do it. He knows it's not optional, he'll feel 10 times worse if he doesn't do it.

It's not about being room/housebound or not. There are daily living and mobility activities you are assessed on.

Consider whether DS can manage the claim on his own or whether you need to apply to be his appointee.

Investigate if there is a local organisation that helps to fill the forms out. They need wording in the right way. There's also these 2 resources from citizens advice and Hertfordshire CC. (I don't live there but the guide is helpful.)

Hey guys. Just wanted to see I'm loving this chat. I'm a new mum to all this. I've only done SEN support in schools. So new to all the appointments and everything else. I'm getting so so much information off you guys that I know is going to help my little princess

hop that sounds like a tough day.bless him,and I hope somewhere in there you got a couple of minutes headspace to yourself.hope today's better for you

I contacted EHCP team last week regarding no school support from beg September to date that we are ment to be meetingassuming they don't break for summermight try chivvying that along next week
Photographed replys to assessment at camhs for youngest and got her to email them.we having telephone meeting for her on 4th August
Dolly we are very lucky to have onehop on board here for the practical knowledge on all thing Senand sometimes just the knowledge you are not fighting on alone and have somewhere to dump bad days,and share the small wins others might scoff at as insignificant

I don't mind sharing information about benefits, services, charities, education etc. Such info should be more widely known.

I will be forever grateful to some on MN who supported me through some horrendous days. I could never repay them. If I can help someone even if it's just a fraction of what I received then it's worth posting.

Everyone's advice here is just as valid as mine. All DC are different, some suggestions will work, some won't.

Zoo, if DD3 has been accepted for onto the waiting list for an ASD assessment apply for DLA. You don't need a diagnosis, it's needs based. Without CAMHS input for DD2 to evidence her needs it is probably easier to get DLA for DD3 than PIP for DD2.

There will be someone at the LA. Chase them up now, a week is enough time to respond. State if they don't provide education at the start of September you will be going to Judicial Review. This should get their attention.

In need of another this morning.

Hey guys got another letter today that was dated December 2019. Not sure why I've only just recieved it. But she was diagnosed then which I knew nothing about with hyperacusis. Have any of you guys dealt with this xx

Hyperacusis is more often seen in people with autism than the general population. Has DD had a referral to a specialist audiologist?

Some people find noise cancelling headphones, ear defenders or white noise helps.

There are mixed views on whether ear defenders help hyperacusis (which is what DD2 has) or misophonia (which is what DS1 has) long term or make people more sensitive to noise. My opinion is if they are needed to help DC cope they are beneficial. DD2 and DS3 (who is noise sensitive but doesn't meet the diagnostic criteria for a stand alone diagnosis) don't use them all the time, only when needed, but DS1 uses them more and it's better than the anxiety not doing so causes.

I'm lacking in motivation today. Need to send a couple of emails and make a few phone calls though.

No not yet. Today was the first I heard about it. I didnt think about but a night she has a fan in her bedroom which she sleeps with as she likes the noise to sleep.

Proud mum moment. My brother died Tuesday. And my 6 year old who doesn't show emotions outside of our home. Went and cuddled my mum and kissed her. It was magical

Hop.... motation is hard some days isnt it

Oh dolly thats such a big thing!!well done dd

Was sorting thru some stuff and came across playdoh and cutters.dd2,who is 16,is now happily playing with a barber/hairdresser set squishing it and cutting it....
She's been having a really tough day,and it's helping enormously!

I am sorry to hear about your brother Dolly.

Zoo I hope DD2's reduced anxiety continued into the evening. Probably too much to hope it lasted yesterday too given the heat and storms.

DS1 struggled with the weather yesterday. He hates heat, thunder and lightning. We nipped to the hospital for a chest x-ray which thankfully doesn't look too bad. Today DS1's overnight respite carers are visiting for 1/2 hour in the garden. Hoping to refamiliarise DS to them, so when overnights restart they are not even more stressful for DS1.

Hop that's a positive step having that familiarity.glad chest X ray wasn't too bad
We too are not a happy household in the heat.dd2 will use cooling spray,and a fan with water spray option.ds hates noise of fans and still wants play playstation despite it heating his room..not an easy day,or evening.we never got stormsbut highly grateful slightly cooler today

Zoo we have quiet fans for the same reason. Although they aren't silent so still lead to grumbling. For DS' we also have air purifiers & dehumidifiers (to help their allergies and respiratory conditions) which help in hot weather too. I'm also grateful it's cooler.

We tried to keep in touch but DS1 struggles with phones and FaceTime/zoom. The respite carers have sent photographs of the decorating they have done. They were here 20mins and by then DS was quite agitated so we called it a day.