How do I help my anxious DS 12

[whydoIhavetodoeverything]

My lovely boy is the eldest of 4 and has always been anxious. When little he had separation anxiety from me at nursery and at nighttime. However he did well at primary school and has some nice friends. He is now in year 8 and has over the last few months been progressively become more anxious, checking the house/under his bed multiple times before bed, worrying about his younger sisters (freaked out when they went into the sea on holiday as he thought they would drown - they were in 4 inch water) etc. He has started to display really worrying signs, such as jumping out his skin at loud noises, hitting his head etc. I’ve spoke to him last night and he was so upset, saying he has dark thoughts and feels like his head will explode and he fears someone in his family will die (background, I had cancer 3 years ago but God willing okay now). I know that lots of children must be feeling like this after lockdown but I feel really worried about him and really helpless. Any help or guidance would be grateful x

Should have added spike to GP who was nice but said CAHMS waiting list about a year, and school said he’d have to do an online anxiety test (was hoping for a nice chat with a professional instead)

*spoke not spike 😩

He needs as much professional help as you can get him. He is still young so it can be controlled and possibly even fixed but the sooner the better for him.

So frustrating at the moment not being able to get help for your children. We took on a foster child who needed 4 teeth removing, 6 months ago. Since then all we have been able to get is video calls from the dentist.

I am not sure where I can get professional help that isn’t really costly. I did look at Young Minds and we went through the guidance together but me and DH both work and we have 4 kids so quite thinly stretched although obviously want to do the best for DS.