Anxiety meds for autistic 10yo boy

[FromTheFirstOldFashionedWeWereCursed]

My gorgeous DS is intensely anxious, particularly at school. He was diagnosed at 4, then fine until year 5 began but now is in middle of year 6 and barely able to engage at his (small, supportive) mainstream school.

We are trying every other type of support and applying for more specialist secondaries, but it feels very much like we are barely making any difference because the anxiety is so strong. We have a BUPA policy so can see a private paediatric psychiatrist under that, with a GP referral, but I’m wondering if anyone feels able to share personal experience.

DS1 doesn’t have autism, but does have other complex needs, he began taking antidepressants and antipsychotics younger than your DS. They helped with his anxiety.

Thank you so much for sharing his experience. Did you have to push hard for them or was it fairly straightforward? Were they prescribed by an NHS psychiatrist or some other way?

They were suggested to us by NHS psychiatrists without us asking for them.