Hi,
DS 17 is in his special school a few days a week and studies online for a level 3 course for the other days at home.
He has ARFID and currently, his 24/7 anxiety over school is making his eating and drinking much worse. Today, he tried to pee and nothing came out. He hasn’t been for a pee since 3pm yesterday when he got out of bed. That’s how little he’s been drinking and eating. Yesterday, he ate one item plus a large coke which came to approx 650 calories. That was it. He gets confused over the very similar feelings of hunger and anxiety. He is losing weight again. Like 5lbs in a week and is very underweight.
He has been re-referred to the Eating Disorder Service who are putting things in place.
My question though is should I look at getting him a few weeks sick leave off school - to reduce the anxiety and allow him to feel less stressed to eat? Anyone else been through similar? He leaves school next July and is 18 after Christmas and currently, he doesn’t feel able to consider a job out of the house.
At school, he is getting very little benefit from the time he spends there and isn’t studying for any specific qualifications - it’s more for the social aspect and preparation for adulthood etc but my DH insists it’s good for him to go. I currently think it’s actually harmful to his mental well being and physical health and other than his one music lesson a week, not beneficial at all. He is constantly at a level of high stress with chest pain and tachycardia because of his low calorie intake and worry over going into school. I would say that currently, his needs are not being met at school but at the same time, he won’t allow us to talk to school about it, as he doesn’t want to communicate his worries to anyone there.
What would you do?