Hi - I am sorry that you are having a bad time, but it will pass. Linda has given you some sound advise, and I would like to add if your son won't go to the GP / CAMHS you go. I went to many appointments on my own and it helped me to try and understand. Keep a diary of everything !!

To give you a little background - my son refused the majority of senior school only attending very few days- always promising to go in the next day but it never happened. I spent years with psychologists doctors etc trying to find the answer. I was only when I started to understand how he felt that I could help him. He never wanted to be the way he was - living in isolation after being a fun happy go lucky boy in primary school. His anxieties were a real problem, and I feared for his future and what he would do. He took his GCSE's at home ( I never deregistered him ) and once he officially "left school" it took another 12 months before he started to go out and socialise like most other teenagers.

He is now 22 - and life is good ( albeit the anxieties never fully go away he copes ) he is a coach / teacher for teenagers on residential activity courses teaching them social and confidence skills - how bizzar is that - the students love him because he understands.

There is always light at the end of the tunnel I promise - just wish I knew that for the 5 years of refusing we went through !!

Good luck and take care xx

Hi Sarah,

Great to hear from you!! How good is that for your son! So pleased to hear and it makes me hopeful about my son who at 18 is now like your son was back then and so being patient is all I can be and hope this year is a time for him to gain confidence back. Can't believe I'm still on here!
You a so right about the need to understand. That also helped us on our journey! They need to learn to manage it but that takes time.
All the best and hope your son has given confidence to those other kids and in turn gained his own.
LInda xx

Hi Linda - WOW your son is now 18 where has that time gone.

Yes I am extremely proud of him he has come along way - I have to pinch myself at times.

Time and understanding - I am much older and wiser now - just wish I have the knowledge back then.

Take care xx