9 year old son with GAD

[worrywart44]

Hello All,

I am new here! I have GAD and now my son who is 9 years old has severe GAD. It is debilitating him and he is having panic attacks at school and has missed some days because he is on the floor in a heap screaming and hyperventilating. We have had him in therapy for nearly a year and he was doing pretty well. We just started medications 6 days ago.......Zoloft 25mg daily. I am feeling like a failure as a mom that I had to medicate my child and I need support. I am wondering if there are any other parents out there with children who have this disorder and if so which meds if any are they taking. How long does it take for the medications to work? I do understand that they take some weeks to fully work but I just want him to feel better and I don't know how to do that. I am a 39 year old mother and I can't handle my anxiety sometimes.

Looking forward to hearing some feedback.

WW44

[Agora1]

worrywart44, nothing is worse than seeing a young child suffering mentally and physically with GAD. I can only share what I went through with my foster child at 2years of age. Consistent rocking back and forth, night terrors, on the floor screaming and crying if I would leave for a moment. It was diagnosed as Separation Anxiety at the time. She was put on Prozac at 3years of age as well as Melleril (an antipsychotic drug) Little is know on the effects of success with younger children. Therapy is usually warranted as the way to go. That is if you can get the child to open up and talk. She was fine when coloring or playing games with the therapist but other than that, nothing.

Since this is your child, you know the background of his young developmental years. Don't ever feel you are a failure as a mom. You are doing all you can through the advice of professionals. I know how wearing it can be on you because I too was suffering from anxiety and migraines at that time. It's unbelievably difficult to see a child in so much fear looking at you for support when you too fear his fear.

Work with a therapist for yourself as well. Some schools will provide counseling on a weekly basis talking about school and home life which can help. The biggest thing you can do is to be a part of therapy. And if he is not on therapy and only medication, I would highly recommend that be started. Believe me it doesn't get better as he goes into middle school. I'm sorry. Come to the forum and we can at least help and support you by sharing your anxiety as well as knowing you are not alone in going through this. We care. xx

[worrywart44 in reply to Agora1]

Hi!

Thanks for the reply. My son is in therapy at least once a week and is now seeing the social worker at his school. I’m trying everything I can!

[Agora1 in reply to worrywart44]

That's perfect. Now you need to take care of you as well. We will always be here when you need a listening ear. Stay strong. xx

[onelittlerose]

My mom deals with the same thing with me. But I've dealt with GAD for long enough to have some ideas, if you'd like? When I was little, we had a small bag or backpack that we filled with little things I liked, like a small blanket, a teddy bear, a box of colorful beads and trinkets I could play with and things that interacted with my senses. Because anxiety is so focused in the brain and becoming lost in your thoughts and panic, engaging touch especially is important to stopping panic attacks. Also- sitting with your back to a wall lessens the anxiety of something unknown happening to you because you can see everything around you. And don't feel like a failure, anxiety is a common problem and thankfully there are many ways to learn to manage it. If you need any help let me know <3 And I wish you all the best

[Hopeful-Tinkerbell]

It sounds like as a mother you are doing everything you can do to help your son. My son went through a lot at a young age including medications. Not feeling anxious when your child is hurting would be much more concerning to me! My son was in therapy a long time. All you can do is love and support them. I still sleep with my “security” blanket. Onelittleroses ideas were so great. Ask him what he feels would help him feel better. Let him know you care, love and support him! Not that you aren’t. Momma you definitely need care yourself. Is your spouse around and or helpful? Mine totally wasn’t. I know you’ve probably heard it a thousand times but if you don’t take care of yourself you can’t take care of them. It is so important. Even an occasional girls night out if possible. I never did that and when my son moved out I was left with nothing. I was so obsessed with taking care of him and his life I forgot about a life for me. Now I feel like I don’t have one at all. Obviously his needs are being met as best you can. Just don’t forget about yours. It’s also important he learn also to become an independent thinker as well as possible of course. I babies my son so much. He went away to school and I ended up in a mental health facility. Well now he is 23 and he has had to move back home. He still expects me to care for him like I used to do. He doesn’t clean, pay bills, nothing and it’s becoming problematic. It’s importantant to love and care for them all while guiding them into an independent young adult. That can obviously be challenging with the problems he is facing but during his better moments important. They are so many organizations that provide assistance to parents of a child with special needs. In the US including a babysitter for relief. I hope you are taking full advantage. Take care of you too momma. It’s not selfish it’s mandatory. Much love and God bless!