I am seeking any help or advice on how to support my 11 year old son who struggles with severe anxiety. Mornings are extremely difficult, he refuses to go to school. I try to be patient and understanding but lately I've been getting angry and end up yelling at him which I know is the wrong thing to do.
I'm a Mama who needs advice - Anxiety and Depre...
I'm a Mama who needs advice


Welcome Momofboys7, to a caring supportive community.
I remember those days with my daughter at about the same age
when it started. It was very disheartening to go through this daily
and worrying how she would get through school. Meeting upon
meeting with the counselors proved nothing. The Dean even the
Police department seemed to be helpless. Their theory was as long
as I was home and she was not running the streets, there was nothing
they could do.
In home therapy was called upon but I would be the only one who had the
weekly sessions. My daughter refused to come out of her room. A very very
difficult time for sure. I had more therapy then I did for my own anxiety issues.
It was called Separation Anxiety which I later found out my daughter might have
been bullied for being a Foster Child. Somehow we got through it, without my
blood pressure rising each time. I hope others who have gone through the same
thing, can put in their own experiences. I'm so understanding in what you are
going through. Know that it is not your fault. I care xx
Thank you so much for sharing and for your kind words. I agree, I do believe he has separation anxiety! Mondays are the worst days, or after a break from school. I have been reading book after book and listening to podcasts. Waiting for a psych evaluation on May 8th, and that can't come quick enough!
Perhaps your son is going through a condition called 'Precocious Puberty' which boys and girls go through around 11 years of age when they are coming into puberty and it can cause anxiety. Look up the condition online it may be of some help with the situation you and your boy are going through. Perhaps paying a visit to the doc may help👍..best wishes to you both.
It must be very difficult for everyone in your family now. Have you considered homeschooling just for a while.
very difficult situation. Definitely needs to get into therapy. But as for you, you need to do your best not to get angry and yell. I know how hard that is my 7 year old has anxiety/PTSD and when he gets spinning it’s hard to break him out of it. Once he gets help you’ll be able to look back at all this as a blip in the road.
Hello Momofboys7
Our son who is 14 now, started having the exact same issue around the same age.
We believe it started when my mother in law was diagnosed with dementia and had to be moved into a nursing home.
It was devastating for him. She watched him from birth and when my wife went back to work he was with her a lot.
He was diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and separation anxiety.
Besides medication and therapy, we opted to send him to a school that is for kids with those challenges and other things like autism.
He’s doing ok but continues to struggle going on Monday or after breaks. We haven’t managed to solve that problem.
He’ll start high school at a new school, similar to where he is now, but will go to summer school starting at the new school.
Best of luck to you and your family! We know exactly what you’re going through!!!
Talk, talk and talk some more. Keep an open line of communication with him and his school. I know it’s tough. My son is 12 and my daughter is 11. I work at their school and my son had a tough time two years ago and now it’s my daughter. Does his school have a counselor or an MTSS teacher?