hi all:

remember when my daughter fell and sprained her spine..well since she started taking meds for muscle relaxing....she got herself a beautiful case of constipation...so no school for the past 2 weeks...she went back today...no problems at all...yeah..and they've increase her hours now shes up to 5 hours...PROGRESS.
We have set up a 504 plan for her...you can only set this up with a doctor verifying the issues....hers is anxiety. As I have told ya'll previously, she does have a psyc dr and the specialised class at school..
and she does have the court system tailing her. But my question is this...here in the US this particular method is not an option it is a necessary road to the health and well being of producing an emotionally well balanced adult....(thats how they term this action of truancy) and to my amazement it is working....do any of you have this sort of system in place? I was very uptight about all this at first as you all probably remember but like I say this is working. Meds, doctors, school and court. We are all out to help my daughter even though the road is long. Her therapist is also a family type...to support parents and also for deep support for her. We meet once a month for updates and changes that need to be made. We all know what kind of stress this puts on everything in the household (dog included). Be strong, supportive and know inside yourself...help is there...you have to seek it out. See a psyc dr first...have the anxiety (or whatnot) diagnosed. This one step can move mountains with the court system should that arise. That is step one....Please be brave make the step...the doctors are there to help not hurt..Go ahead...do it..
Ranting done for now...Hugs to all...

Bonnie - so pleased for both you and your daughter it is great news. Tell me more about the system that you have used as it is always useful to know what has worked for others.

May the good luck continue

Love Sarah x

hi Bonnie,

Good to hear you have something working. Is the system you talk about a case of several people there to help your daughter progress? I am not sure I quite understand what you meant by a kind of system.
Here in Australia I have found that I have had to seek out the help myself and I have gone down the road you seem to suggest. First doctor, then paediatrician, then psychologist, now CB therapist. The school just take so long to come on board - they are only now talking about calling in the region who might offer further options and this is only to cover their own backs (they have said as much).
I am now also going to take my son to a psychiatrist for full assessment.
The CB therapist thinks this might not actually be Generalised Anxiety Disorder but separation anxiety. Not so much from me - but from the comfort zone. She said it might have been more generalised anxiety but it has manifested itself into s eparation anxiety and so that is what we have to deal with step by step.
I find the whole process has been ad hoc. There is no one out there suggesting what steps to take - I have merely taken steps based on my own research and suggestions from this forum. It sounds like where you are there might be a more direct system to enter? Although that might not be all over the US?
There is a Mental Health Plan that my son is on - but that is so that we get money back from the government health scheme. No one actually says this is step one or two - you just have to tell the doctor you are seeing a psychologist etc and you get six weeks on the plan and then a review. Maybe some doctors are different and layout the road that can be taken but I haven't come across that here. Being ad hoc is part of the heart ache as whist we are suffering our own stress we have to be out there trying to work out what to do next.
Again - good luck with your daughter Bonnie -
Linda

Hi...ok after 4 years of constant different stomach ailments and many enoscopies and biopsies of the tummy and esophogus...was suggested to see a psyc therapist. They can give meds to calm tummy down and let tummy heal. The therapist part is to talk about what is the cause of the tummy problem to begin with. Got a therapist and away we go.

In the meantime...when school is missed more than 10 days in a year...the law steps in and truancy charge is given. With this done they assign their own therapist, and juvenile officer to keep up with the child and make sure they are attending school. Heres the part *

First step: get diagnosis of ailment ours is anxiety...separation etc, school phobia, school refusal...etc (this is all considered one here)

Second step: school makes a plan called a 504....meeting the needs of a child who cannot handle a full day of school....or cannot walk into the building...various scenarios.
Now this school in particular..dont know if all schools offer this unique setting..has a special classroom(success class) for this group...they do their work as usual...however they have whatever option to cope they they have chosen before a situation of unrest happens...My girl uses her ipod, or draws or just relaxin until the episode calms...
In this class..there is also a team of teachers...a phsycologist, math tutor, english tutor...etc all specialised to deal with the angst these kids deal with....
There is a monthly meeting with the team...consisting of school nurses, counselors, success teachers, and her outside team of phys doctors, daughters lawyer etc. This is to see how the child is doing academically and where anything else can be done to make this child a healthy happy learner. This is then reported back to court also monthly and they follow the child until the end of the school year. So far this is working tremendously.

I think what I am understanding through this forum is that I am a lucky person to have this particular system in place. It doesnt sound like anybody else has this support. Court part sounds scary but it is the law here. Miss 10 days. with or without doctors notes it doesnt matter...they dont want kids to fall behind. They want kids to be responsible and face up to whatever is bothering them and keeping them from succeeding. This is called the Success Program, and by golly I am having success. It is not easy, however with the steps and the quickness of making them, its been a whole lot easier than I ever anticipated. To see my child now after 3 months...is downright amazing. She has opened up to accept that no body is expecting perfection..just for her to do her best. She struggles with her anxiety everyday dont get me wrong, however, she can now control it with the tools shes been given and get through those times relatively quickly and move on. That is an accomplishment.

I must add in the US not everyone is covered by Insurance. However in my State which is NH we have State Coverage called Healthy Kids, so that all kids can have access to healthcare. Healthy Kids pays for any and all Mental Health Care.

I hope this helps...and if I can be of any help to anybody else...just contact me...always available.