I'm hoping this won't sound horrible but I'm genuinely worried.
DS1 is 16. Had a fairly difficult time over GCSEs including being ostracised by his friends over a fallout. Was expressing anxiety and claiming mild self-harm and panic attacks so we spoke with the school and booked him some private counselling.
He's been going for a couple of months and says it helps and is progressing. But...
Yesterday he was 'having massive panic attack' in his room before school. Said had no control over his thoughts or limbs (we noticed nothing). Said he has 'muscle dysphoria' and is obsessively checking his body in the mirror. Has time out from lessons if he feels he needs it.
I have longstanding anxiety and depression issues myself (well controlled by meds) so there's no way I'd dismiss out of hand, but it seems to me a lot of what he describes is JUST BEING A TEENAGER.
But if I gently question whether A Label is really helpful, he clearly thinks I'm just denying the whole thing. Which I'm not, I know how horrible being a teen can be. I just question whether pathologising to this extent is healthy.
I'm not going to stop the counselling just in case, but I don't know whether I should be trying to speak to the counsellor or what.
Any MN wisdom would be much appreciated.