![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by alexandra_k on March 4, 2005, at 17:49:35
Posted by donna.c on March 4, 2005, at 6:51:42I have a thirteen year old son who has had this problem since the age of ten,he showed signs of this before that but it was put down to him being a quiet shy child.He has seen a psychologist who has only really told us that he has a fear of crowds as he cannot walk into school without panicking because of the crowd of children.He hasnt been to school properly since year 7.It wasnt until i looked into social anxiety disorder that i realised that this is my son! So many things described in the symptoms point to my son.I would like to hear from any parents that are in the same situation and that have any advice on how to cope as me and my partner find this situation very hard.
Posted by stresser on March 7, 2005, at 15:39:48
In reply to Redirect - social anxiety disorder in children, posted by alexandra_k on March 4, 2005, at 17:49:35
Is your son on any medication for his disorder? I do know that Zoloft, Paxil, etc. does help quite a bit with anxiety. My daughter has taken several different types of anti-depressant/anti-anxiety medications and has had excellent results. I suggest bringing this up to the psychologist, and getting his opinion. I wouldn't hurt. -L
Posted by alexandra_k on March 8, 2005, at 1:31:17
In reply to Re: Redirect - social anxiety disorder in children » alexandra_k, posted by stresser on March 7, 2005, at 15:39:48
Posted by AuntieMel on March 8, 2005, at 14:24:17
In reply to Redirect - social anxiety disorder in children, posted by alexandra_k on March 4, 2005, at 17:49:35
It sounds like he's still a quiet shy kid. I would get a second opinion before starting any meds, if he is otherwise ok.
I was that painfully shy myself, so I know what it feels like.
Would he feel more comfortable if he gets to school as soon as they open the doors? That way he wouldn't be walking into a crowd, they would be coming into where he is a bit at a time. He could even go sit in class and let a smaller group go where he is.
That kind of shyness needs to be dealt with gradually, in my opinion. Forcing things {or not allowing him to grow at all} could be too stressful.
Mine never completely went away. But I got real good at hiding it.
Posted by donna.c on March 19, 2005, at 15:58:12
hi to everyone,i have left messages before but havent had much response. i have a thirteen year old son who suffers from anxiety disorder and has since he was about 10. he hasnt been to school for nearly a year and i am constantly fighting to get him the help he needs to get back! if anyone has any experiences in anxiety disorders i would love to hear from you, i need someone to talk to!
Posted by stresser on March 20, 2005, at 13:53:46
In reply to my son has anxiety disorder!, posted by donna.c on March 19, 2005, at 15:58:12
Have you taken him to a psychiatrist? Is he on any medications to help him deal with the anxiety? I know that there are many out there that will help, and sometime you have to try different types before you find the one that will work best for you. Can you give us some more information? Sorry about not answering before, I didn't see your post. I also have a 13 year old son, with no anxiety yet...but a 16 year old daughter with enough for our entire neighborhood. I do know what it's like, the worry, stress, no sleep, ANXIETY, etc.
We will help you with this, if you try to babble me, it may not work. I have changed my internet service and kept the same e-mail address to I don't know how to get the babble to work anymore.
Keep checking back on this board. OK? -L
Posted by mair on March 21, 2005, at 12:34:24
In reply to my son has anxiety disorder!, posted by donna.c on March 19, 2005, at 15:58:12
My son, now almost 20 and a sophomore in college, can get very anxious. His anxieties got to be very dibilitating when he was 9, and he was successfully treated with about 4 or 5 months of cognitive behavioral therapy. He hasn't really had to be treated since then, but I've certainly considered taking him back again on several occasions when his anxieties seemed to get more out of control. Transitions are tough like changing schools or the beginning of school years; really anything is difficult if he's forced out of his fairly constrained comfort zone. And mostly what it means is that we spend hours trying to help him work through every rationalization he comes up with as to why he can't do something.
If your son hasn't been able to attend school, his must be more serious than anything my son has had to deal with. Have you looked into medications. I really do think they can help. I know my T's 16 year old son has an anxiety disorder that is being treated with medications. It's like anything else, the meds aren't going to cure it, but they might make the symptoms more manageable.
Mair
Posted by donna.c on March 24, 2005, at 11:34:05
my son isnt on any medication as this hasnt been discussed with psychiatrist,basically we are waiting for help from the school as psychiatrist feels that they would be better to help him,i dont really understand how they came to that conclusion as she as only seen him three times.I have finally got an appointment with the school but not till after easter.what signs do you notice when your child has this? what help did you get for them,have you had to fight to get them help as i seem to be in one constant battle to get him help.I definately think its more than just a fear of crowds which is all the psychiatrist has actually said! any advice or just letting me know anything about this would be gratefully appreciated!
Posted by stresser on March 24, 2005, at 12:09:17
In reply to son with anxiety- reply to stresser, posted by donna.c on March 24, 2005, at 11:34:05
My daughter saw three different psychologists before we found the "one" that could help her. (the first one was a joke) It was I who suggested to her previous psychologist, that she see a psychiatrist, (ya me, and I ask if she could be biplolar, and he replied no.) that had been recommended to me by a friend. From there, I found her a different psychologist that was also recommended to me and hit the "jackpot", so to speak. It takes a lot of time and searching to find the right one, and it's up to you to do it. At least that's the conclusion I came too, because nobody else would help us. The doctor she was seeing wasn't doing anything for her, and for almost two years she was going to undiagnosed as Bipolar II. (the very one I asked if she was biplolar) I reaserched on the internet, looked up medications and her symptoms. You have to be aggressive, and I learned that the hard way. I worried about hurting the doctors feelings because we really liked him, but you must do what is best for your child. I would go into the office with a list of medications I had done research on the internet and ask about her trying them. The are the EXACT medications she is on today, and working well so far. I guess what I am saying is, put on your pads, helmet, and start pushing until you get the doctor that can help. There is one out there, and I don't feel that it's up to the school. You may need to see several, and so what! What is your main goal? Let me know how it's going.-L
Posted by mair on March 24, 2005, at 15:29:30
In reply to son with anxiety- reply to stresser, posted by donna.c on March 24, 2005, at 11:34:05
Donna - I hope you don't mind me busting in here. I can't imagine why the psychiatrist thinks the school is in the best position to help him. Schools I've been familiar with pretty uniformly take the position that they're not there to treat problems, and the psych's position seems to reflect a view that the problem is only school related. I've found that my own son's anxieties follow him and morph and reappear in all different kinds of ways and settings. A therapist should be able to give him tools for managing his anxiety that can be used anywhere. Also, if your son clams up, it seems that the best chance for working with him would be on a one on one basis, with someone he might come to trust. It may well be that a therapist might want to work with the school, but it seems that you're not going to get to the bottom of this by just waiting for the school to come up with a solution.
Just my 2 cents. I also agree with everything that stresser says about being your kid's advocate. I haven't always done that as much as I should.
Mair
Posted by donna.c on March 25, 2005, at 14:24:00
In reply to Re: son with anxiety- reply to stresser » donna.c, posted by stresser on March 24, 2005, at 12:09:17
i suppose my main goal is to see him happy and back at school,he has done it before and i have great belief he can do it again(i do have a little bit of doubt though!)He has been alot better over the past couple of weeks as in happier in himself and mixing more outside with other children,before he would shut himself away on his playstation.i have only just told him that he has an appointment with the school and he seems quite happy.
Posted by stresser on April 12, 2005, at 12:49:27
In reply to Re: son with anxiety- reply to stresser, posted by donna.c on March 25, 2005, at 14:24:00
Donna
How did your son's appt. come out with the school? I have been away and have not read the board, sorry. -L
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Parents | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.