Anxiety getting worse for Ds 14

[Saph89]

I'm looking for any advise please, I'm so worried about my son. He's 14 and since last year has been struggling with anxiety.
It started last January, we had been on a short break for nye and on the train home he was very sick. He was then worried to return to school because he was scared he'd be sick at school. This has gotten alot worse as the year has gone on and he's missed alot of school. He's seen the school nurse and is receiving lots of help at school which is great, he's on waiting list to talk to a therapist too and I've taken him to the gp multiple times. However it's getting so much worse to the point where he's now throwing up every day we have to do anything. He used to love seeing family, playing football, going on days out but now everywhere we go he is sick even if its just to see family or if he goes to a friends house.
He really want to do all these things still and he's so fed up with feeling this way.
Has anyone else had a similar experience or can suggest anything we can try? I just want to help him feel better but feel so helpless!
I'm reluctant to start him on medication so we're trying anything we can first.
Thankyou in advance.

Has he got a CAMHS referral? We never got to ours due to Covid but with a lot of gentle talking therapies and small steps, my highly anxious 13 year old is now an increasingly confident 15 1/2 year old.
No advice really, just keep doing what you are doing and know that, in most cases, things do get better.

It started last January, we had been on a short break for nye and on the train home he was very sick

Not the point I know but have you tried the travel sickness pills. DS started with travel sickness at 11 after going on a trip with someone else who was extremely vocal about having it - though there is a history both side in our family with it as well. Seemed to help confine it to journeys - and it has now seemingly gone away. Though when he was worried - give him travel pills before hand and then ginger travel pills and - wipes, sickness container and bags so it was easier to mange if worst happened.

Otherwise - ginger - sweets/steam ginger/biscuits to ward of sickness - or rescue remedy (pastels, spray and drops )is working with DD2 who developing anxiety in school that and ear defenders - it's noise that triggers her - school pushes a pass to leave lessons which I dislike her using but did help and she is now using less with everything else and fidget toys and app a breathing app.

It sounds though like you need to keep on with GP because it's really impacting his life and not sure any of the above would touch that.

We don't drive so it was coaches and trains and buses and that were setting DS off to feel ill or actually being sick a few times then understandable concern it could happen for years afterwards.

I mention as have had a few people insist trains can't cause travel sickness but they can and did for DS.

Thank you all for the advice. We are going to try travel sickness pills and the rescue remedy.

Sorry you’re going through this with your son OP, it must be hard to watch your child struggling.

My only advice is please don’t deny him medication if he needs it, if he had diabetes/cancer/a broken leg you wouldn’t deny medication. Anxiety is horrendous and enduring it through teenage years with hormones on too can be unbearable and they’re more likely to take drastic action.

I went on medication starting in my teenage years and it made my life so much more bearable. The first few months can be a bit worse but honestly once I found the right medication I improved so much and stayed on the meds until my mid 20s. I actually went back on them earlier this year thinking I needed to (I was just pregnant though lol!) they said I could carry on through pregnancy - that’s how safe they are :)

Also a private therapist - l waited over a year to start nhs therapy.

I could have written this. Your ds can get antiemetic tablets from the doctor they are placed in the mouth and slowly dissolve and stop him being sick. My ds has just this week started cbt at school for his anxiety. It also evolved from him being sick once.

Travel sickness bands helpful. Also, types of food before travel.
Have you check for food allergies? It can develop later on, friend’s teenager just found out lactose issues and sesame seeds.

I had a very similar issues with my ds at that age. Eventually it got to a point where he would just lay in bed clutching his tummy and refusing to get out or go to school.
Sadly, for us the school was next to useless in helping him. I managed to get him some counselling with a local teen charity and he started taking CBD oil gummies and these really helped (dd15 actually takes them now if she ever feels anxious).
It can get better OP, ds is now 18 and is in a much better place.
I feel for your ds, I suffer from anxiety and emetophobia, it’s horrible.

Sorry, I have no idea why they have hidden my post? There was nothing but advice on it!

I use sturgeron15 anti sickness tablets for my DS. It helps him on coach journeys especially during school trips.

Thanks for all your advice, very helpful and much appreciated.