My 11-year-old son gets physically sick due to worry. It can range from worrying about forgetting something for school, or going to a camp and someone not picking him up (which has never been forgotten). When he stayed at his uncle’s house he had to come home again. He’s even started worrying about going to secondary school which is a year away. What should we do?
This is a degree of worry and anxiety that far exceeds what would be expected for a child his age. I wonder if there is a family history of anxiety disorders such as excessive worrying, phobias, panic attacks or the like?
Often there is a strong family history. Even if there is none it is important for you to organise support for your son. He is in distress and needs help. The good news is that anxiety disorders are easily treated and respond well to structured interventions such as cognitive behaviour therapy combined with relaxation therapy.
Left untreated they usually get worse and have the potential to become disruptive to all activities of normal living. I suggest you consult your GP and seek a referral to a professional skilled in treating anxiety in young children.
Without this help it is unlikely your son will improve.
Every week on Moncrieff, David Carey, a psychologist with over 25 years experience in both clinical and educational settings, answers your parenting questions. Tune in live today at 3pm, or listen back to the podcasts of the show.
