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SN children

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Original poster

Should we go to CAMHS appointment?

14 replies

flowwithit · 24/03/2013 10:50

I'm really not sure what to do now. We have waited over 5 months for this appointment. My Ds was having panic attacks and was on meds and only in school part time. He is 12yrs and Dx ASD HF since then he is off meds in school full time but still anxious and finds it hard. He is eating again and seems a bit happier now. The LA have also just agreed to SA. I'm worried that going to CAMHS will drag him and me down again and I don't know what we will get out of it?

OP posts:

CouthySaysEatChoccyEggs · 24/03/2013 12:37

I think it would be worth it, in case there is an underlying issue causing the anxiousness. And if it gets worse again, and you turn down the appointment, you would have that long wait again as you wouldn't be 'in the system' IYSWIM.

Just my opinion.

LIZS · 24/03/2013 12:45

He may be ok atm but surely it is only a matter of time , when rather than if, he struggles again. Better to be in the system now just in case.

TapselteerieO · 24/03/2013 12:53

Is it a first appointment? Could you go without your ds to discuss your concerns? You could phone or maybe even e-mail them to say you are not sure about bringing him and why - I still think it might be worth going for your ds - he can get to know them and vice versa - so in a crisis they are not completely new to him.

We went to our first appointment without ds, to discuss the issues/concerns to see if they could help - it was really good, I am glad we did it that way (it meant he didn't miss a day of school too).

They are setting up a block of appointments for him, but they have the background now - so they know what our main concerns are and will aim therapy at this for the time being. We also contact CAHMS when we are worried about ds and what is happening at school. Ds's psych wasn't at work, but dh managed to discuss our concerns with another psych, we'll be talking to them again on Monday.

ouryve · 24/03/2013 13:06

Go. Unless there's a direct cause for the anxiety etc at the time, these sort of symptoms rarely exist in a bubble.

HotheadPaisan · 24/03/2013 13:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ineedmorepatience · 24/03/2013 13:35

I would go too. Dd3 struggles with anxiety but it does come and go. When she is settled it is easy to forget how quickly she can get in to an anxious frame of mind again.

I agree that it might be possible to go without him and find out what they might be able to offer.

Good luck

Icedcakeandflower · 24/03/2013 14:00

I agree with the others. I would keep the appointment, with or without ds, as you could lay yourself open to accusations from the LA of non-engagement/obstruction etc

CouthySaysEatChoccyEggs · 24/03/2013 14:04

Icedcake - non-compliant...Yep, had that one too!!

Original poster

flowwithit · 24/03/2013 19:00

Ok thanks all very much for your advice we will go, you are all right of course and I was just trying to avoid it really.

OP posts:

coff33pot · 25/03/2013 00:48

I can understand why you would want to avoid it :) but I really wouldnt as at this point in time if the LA have agreed to assess it can only stand you in good credit that your DS still has current issues. Also anxiety is a bummer and rears its head at unpredictable times.

He is also becoming a teen and hormones play a big part in our NT kids let alone our DCs with SN! (varied household here).

Maybe at his age a CBT course might be good to helping with future stresses and demands? May be worth mentioning and considering. Especially with future events like exams and tests in senior school.

Good luck x

Selks · 25/03/2013 00:55

If you go to the initial appointment it doesn't mean that you have to keep going if you don't think it's going to be helpful, but if your DS has anxiety and it's affecting his school attendance then the school may expect CAMHS involvement, and it's unusual for a GP to prescribe drugs for mental health problems to under 16s without CAMHS being involved.

I'd suggest just go and find out more about what they could offer, and discuss your fears with them, you may find them very supportive.

Original poster

flowwithit · 25/03/2013 08:53

Yes there are of course always current issues. We are better at managing them now after diagnosis because I understand more. I think I just didn't want to go over it all again but I can see its necessary, he is still anxious during school and it would be good if they offered CBT.
It's difficult to talk to him at the moment he just hides his face, tells me to go away and won't talk to me about school or his worries which is the opposite of how he was before so maybe it will help get him talking again.

OP posts:

Original poster

flowwithit · 25/03/2013 09:18

I just thought I wonder if this appointment has come through now because LA has agreed to assess or it could just be a coincidence.

OP posts:

TapselteerieO · 25/03/2013 11:50

We got our appointment through previous psychologist (different LA) as a referral. Not sure how referrals work, it can take such a long time to get some appointments you forget who might have instigated the contact by the time you hear back from them.

I would try and keep a diary for your CAHMS appointment, might be helpful for seeing a pattern/triggers for the anxiety, but also if you are anything like me you forget details and chronology of specific incidents quickly - everything runs into one or doesn't seem so bad with the distance of time. Also might be worth writing down when the anxiety was at its worst, what was happening.

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