Teenage anxiety issues

[ruth105]

Does anyone know of any supportgroup for anxiety/school refusal? Help through CAHMs is difficult to get and my son has missed loads of secondary schooling. There seem to be loads of help in the states but nothing in the UK.

Hi

You dont say how old your son is? My DS who is nearly 11 has not long been referred to our local anxiety clinic, he has been accessed and I am the one going through the therapy so I can help him overcome his fears and worries.

They have given me this book "Overcoming your child?s fears and worries? by Cathy Cresswell and Lucy Willets to read to work alongside the CBT therapy.

I have also found this website helpful www.anxietyuk.org.uk/about-anxiety/young-people-and-anxiety/

HTH

This is going to sound crazy (and I've said it on lots of prev threads, so if you've been around for a while please forgive me the repetition ) but....

I have done 'retained reflexes therapy' to treat my DSs anxiety - and it has been absolutely amazing.

There have been loads of past threads on Retained Reflexes if you're interested to find out more...

But, basically, DS had retained the baby Moro Reflex (Startle Reflex). Which means everything that was startling him (loud noises etc) was flooding him with adrenalin, so he was permanently stressed and anxious.

We started it at the start of the summer holidays, and when he went back to school 6 weeks later school said "What have you done to him - he is so much better"

Now, it's not a quick fix. We have been doing exercises 10mins a day for 6 months now, and are about half way through the therapy.

And it's nothing like a support group which you asked about

But it is really worth investigating.

Thanks, he is now 14 but started the school anxiety after transfer to Secondary. We have tried all the usual advice from professionals, but I would like to know what has worked for other people. Anxiety seems to be common but not really discussed.