My 12 yr old son started yr 7 in a mainstream school a fortnight ago and he's in absolute bits at home. He is crying, having panic attacks, saying he is going to kill himself, stamping around, hiding, running away, shaking etc - all evening after school and all morning before it. He says he is scared of school, he's frightened of the teachers and he can't cope with being told off 'all the time.' He complains about moving from one classroom to another, doing homework, having to write, I mean, the absolute basics. He wants to 'make a stand' and not go in at all. He says he is so frightened.
I have sat with him and gently encouraged him, other times I have been firm and explained he has to go in and I will do what it takes to help him, I have sat with him while he cried for hours about his fear of school. He says he has made friends there, and he is so sociable and funny he makes friends everywhere he goes, so I don't think it's that. In all other aspects of life he is chilled and easygoing, responsible and fun. I just don't understand this extreme reaction. There is some history of this behaviour, when he was being bullied in his mainstream primary yr 4 he would cry before school, but as a much younger kid.
He had previously been in a specialist school for years 5 and 6 as he has dyslexia and dyspraxia. He loved it there, as he coped really well. The school said he was well ready to move back into mainstream school. He appears to be managing well in school in terms of behaviour and learning.
I am so low, I don't know how to carry on. I haven't approached school as I truly don't think they can do anything about it.
Has anyone experienced anything like this? Has anyone got any ideas about why he's behaving like this? I am so confused and I'm sure I'm mucking up, I just don't know what to do for the best.