I think my 13 year old is struggling with anxiety. He's been sent home from school every day this week for feeling sick but once he gets home, he's fine. He has no reason to avoid school. He's very smart and has lots of friends. Generally enjoys school when he's there. At least 2 or 3 days a week, I have a battle getting him to school because he says he feels ill. This week, he can't stop going to the toilet. He's panicking that he think he needs to go and the teachers wont allow him. He went 3 times in the 10 minutes before leaving for school today and then went twice before first period. He sat in first aid for an hour and they wouldn't send him to class because he kept needing the loo. I had to take him home. He seems fixated on needing the toilet and thinks if he can't go then he'll be sick.
I'm so worried about his attendance and how much he's missing at school. He's year 9 and I really wanted him to focus this year reading for gcse preparations but I feel he's going to start slipping with all this time off.
Does anyone have any tips on how he can help himself get through these feelings? He does have a medical condition (heart) which means I'm always more cautious with him when he feels unwell but I genuinely believe this is mainly in his mind.