Hi
Dc 14, try not to waffle on in post but don't want to drop feed so apologies if it's a bit bullet point format...
Dc made attempt of suicide late last year, reason given is symptomatic of bigeer concerns of anxiety and very little confidence, plus struggling with starting Gcse and comparing to peers (school do 3 year gcse format so gave a term to swap if panicking and rest of year a sort of gentle introduction to them)
As is a huge issue at moment dc has been mentioning trans, no prev gender identity issues or signs of dysmorphia and its a popular topic amongst pees to use chosen pronouns, select a new name etc...
Dc only spoke to a few people at school (they are a lovely, sweet caring person but very timid and socially terrified!) but out if school when we assumed chatting to friends, and would show WhatsApp screens with school friend chat in they were instead using that as a smokescreen and either on discord or a anonymous chat forum with gateway via a pin on Pinterest (now blocked on broadband) and chatting to peers online with no 'real life' friends /, people they would see in person. We thin dc found it easier to chat onli e to avoid real. Life I teractuobs were you have to speak to people, weigh up social nuances, facial expressions, deal with real. Life conversations where you might disagree with some one and have to work. Through that... Instead online chats had an almost cult like lovebombing air to them, dc not being a dominant character seemed to be swept along with online groups where everything is great! Everything is amazing! And trans is a huuuuuge theme that any trans comment will be dawned over, so dc seemed to be drawn to an artificial environment to try and find their tribe.
Another self harm and the phine chat etc all came out and has Bern away for 4 months. Dc having telephone appointments while we wait for counselling to start, and has been using teams to chat to school friends.. We appreciate they have been strengthening reL luge friendships however come the holidays people aren't going to be in school teams, so dc has asked for their phone.
Cahms telephone councellor suggested a contract, I have chatted briefly to dc to say my concern is social media access will reverse a lot of progress they have made, and discord is banned if phone came back.
Anyone designed one to use with teens? Or arranged agreements as to what is acceptable phone usage, what is or isn't allowed, what in this circumstance anyone with experience in this scenario might suggest be helpful?
Appreciate any help and replies.
Thanks.