Anxiety disorder in children??

[mom'sfolly]

I have a friend who's child is dyslexic and other issues due to the dyslexia. She had the initial diagnosis done through the Masons, and the school had to accept it. The assessment was comprehensive, tests for lots of learning disabilities, and depression and anxiety. I think they can be done for free, with a long waiting list, or you can pay for them. This might be a way to get a good handle on your daughter's issues, get the IEP for school, and techniques to deal with it at home. Another friend has done a dyslexia tutoring program for her daughter through the Masons. Her daughter went from being two years behind in reading to on grade level in less than a year. Dealing with the dyslexia has also helped her daughter's anxiety issues.

 

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

Well good news!

I got off my own pity pot

and got busy. I spoke for a long time to her dyslexia coach and she said she said she would push for the IEP and go to the school for the "team meetings" if need be.

So I got DD off the bus and we drove back to the school and the plan was to simply walk through her schedule to help her work through the anxiety issues. Luckily we ran into: the teacher who most scared her AND her homeroom teacher! They could NOT have been nicer to her/us. They agreed to meet with her coach and the homeroom teacher said she would contact guidance about pulling up her record or retesting her for an IEP.

So we made real progress!

The guy who was so scary even turned around to show her he had no horns and no tail!

SO I am still going to speak to the counselor about getting her a therapist. And maybe consider going back for me. I reread my earlier post and I can see how discouraged I was feeling. I can't let her progress or mood spin me that badly.....

Kristy, I have a chronic health condition and we went through a serious financial crunch two years ago. We try really hard to shield the kids from stuff like this, but they know! She worries endlessly over my health. Not so much money!

We may have shielded her too well on that one! She cannot seem to differentiate how much to freak out over a broken shoe lace versus failing a test you know?? I know and have taught her some cognitive behavioral stuff to talk herself down, but it doesn't always work - for either of us!

This iswhy I never know how far is too far, how disordered is too disordered.....

 

[KristyHall]

I have WHAT in my yard? :

Well good news!

I got off my own pity pot

and got busy. I spoke for a long time to her dyslexia coach and she said she said she would push for the IEP and go to the school for the "team meetings" if need be.

So I got DD off the bus and we drove back to the school and the plan was to simply walk through her schedule to help her work through the anxiety issues. Luckily we ran into: the teacher who most scared her AND her homeroom teacher! They could NOT have been nicer to her/us. They agreed to meet with her coach and the homeroom teacher said she would contact guidance about pulling up her record or retesting her for an IEP.

So we made real progress!

The guy who was so scary even turned around to show her he had no horns and no tail!

SO I am still going to speak to the counselor about getting her a therapist. And maybe consider going back for me. I reread my earlier post and I can see how discouraged I was feeling. I can't let her progress or mood spin me that badly.....

Kristy, I have a chronic health condition and we went through a serious financial crunch two years ago. We try really hard to shield the kids from stuff like this, but they know! She worries endlessly over my health. Not so much money!

We may have shielded her too well on that one! She cannot seem to differentiate how much to freak out over a broken shoe lace versus failing a test you know?? I know and have taught her some cognitive behavioral stuff to talk herself down, but it doesn't always work - for either of us!

This iswhy I never know how far is too far, how disordered is too disordered.....

You obviously love your family and will do what ever you can to make them happy. Looks like you are going in the right direction.

The good thing is, most children I have run into that was very anxious and good at picking up on their parents problems (being concerned about your health, etc) has grown up to be very loving and empathetic adults.

Just the fact that you are there, and doing what you can, she'll notice, and she'll appreciate it when she understands what is going on. It may not be today but it will happen.​

 

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

Thank you very much Kristy. It has been a busy week. We returned to school with her each day so she could do walk throughs.

Tonight she has a friend over and she is running around the basement and screaming giggling.

You would never guess she suffered from such anxiety.

I still wonder, but today I know the school is doing a great deal to help her.....

 

[nuchickontheblock]

I am so glad that your school is being supportive of you and your daughter. I've been a school nurse for a long time (30ish years) and have seen more children over the last 10 years suffering with fears and anxiety. As we get close to 9/11 I am reminded how much our entire society - kids and adults - have become more afraid and hyper-vigilant, with the media fueling any negativity and making every news story a"breaking news" frenzy accompanied by heart pounding music.

Most of the school personnel that I know really want to help kids and do what is best for them. So please push your special ed dept to do what your child needs and is legally entitled to -- evaluations, special programming, social work services, modified schedule, etc. Sometimes in school settings, the squeaky wheel gets the grease, so keep on advocating for her. If there is a child psychiatrist that can evaluate your daughter for a diagnosis and medication, that might be a positive avenue. In some communities, child psychiatrists are hard to find and difficult to get appointments with, but be persistent, as they are the most knowledgeable for medication management. The right medication can do wonders for anxiety disorders. She will also need to continue to learn strategies to cope with both her learning disability and her anxiety; though it sounds like she is on her way to learning and using some good coping skills already.

Good nutrition, proper sleep, and fun activities that she enjoys with friends she is comfortable with, all will help as well. It sounds like you are a wonderful advocate for her. It is really hard to try to meet the needs of a child who wants and needs so much from you, plus take care of the rest of your family and yourself. Probably taking care of yourself is last on your list. Make sure you take time for YOU.

Sounds like you are on the right track. Don't forget . . . take care of yourself.

 

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

Good nutrition and proper amount of sleep is so hard to manage. One of the things I requested from the teachers is that we negotiate on homework. Homework intend to take 15 minutes can take her an hour, fully undermining the reinforcing purpose of homework. Additionally at 11, we want her to have appropriate social activities, scouts, sports, etc. But, she has to get up at 5:30! So she needs to be in bed by 8:30 to get the 9 hours she seems to need.

It seems after talking to other kids that most of them are going to bed between 10:30 and 11:00!!! It explains how they're involved in so much and still getting homework done, but as a society did we forget that kids need sleep?? Did we abandon the idea that they need unstructured play time?

 

[nuchickontheblock]

Yup! I think we did! So many kids have something programmed for them every day . . . no time to just hang out and do nothing. I wonder if kids ever just lie on their bed and read comic books any more? I guess I'm showing my age. LOL

One of your daughter's accommodations for her dyslexia should be modified amount of homework, test questions, etc. If that's not in writing, request an IEP meeting and put those type of accommodations in. Good luck and keep on it.

Remember . . . sleep and some fun for you too!

 

[laseterlass]

What most people do not understand is that anxiety is addictive. Your body becomes addicted to the rush of adrenalin that comes with it. It begins to trigger that over seemingly nothing, for the rush. It is worse in women. Medication helps a lot.