Hi There
I am new to the community and feeling a little desperate at the moment.
My son was diagnosed, aged 7 in 2009 with Aspergers. He is usually a very happy, extremely bright boy who has worked incredibly hard to overcome his social/peer issues.
He is now in year 6 and over the last few months has become more and more anxious. He hasn't missed or ever wanted to miss a day from school in over 4 years and has always, academically at least, achieved extremely well.
However, at the moment I am struggling to get him into school. He used to walk with his friends to school but started getting upset in the mornings saying "I can't do it, I can't do it" but he himself struggles to understand why. It has got gradually worse to the point where I have to physically take him into school, to his classroom and hand him over to his teacher in tears. He says he's not being bullied and there's nothing "wrong" at school but he just goes into panic mode whenever "I leave him" or we "leave somewhere". He's checking and re-checking things and wanting to "go back" to places "in case we've left something behind".
I have in the past taken him to see a craniosacral therapist, when he was about 6 who really helped to calm him down and I took him back again last week. He has taught him some breathing/calming excercises to do when he feels anxious but even that doesn't seem to be working.
I try talking to him every day about 'just stuff' and his day. We've also tried incentives, which have worked in the past but just don't seem to be helping now. I've also asked him to keep a diary of his feelings and to write at least one good thing about his day to try and help boost his self esteem.
He is starting secondary school in September and I know he is worried about this as well as his SATs in May. I am organising extra transition days for him but am so worried that if he is still like this come September, crying every morning at school, the other kids are going to give him a really hard time.
So sorry for the hugely long post, I just wanted to give you some back ground so that hopefully someone can offer me some advice.
Many thanks in advance.
Nicky
