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Juls77x

Anxiety - Beta-Blockers

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Hi,

 

My son is almost 16 and exams are coming up and his anxiety has got a lot worse again. The thing is that he doesn't freak out, have panic attacks or refuse to go to school, he just feels extremely sick, he tells me he wants to go but feels awful (and I don't doubt this, he is a good kid, never in trouble and is as white as a sheet). After lots of physical hospital tests threw up nothing, it was decided he was suffering from anxiety but we have had little more advice than reduce stress where possible.

 

He was eventually (at my instantance, why you need to push doc's when it is a 3 year problem is beyond my understanding) referred to Young Peoples Dept for counselling. I called in advance to ensure that the counsellor he would see had experience with children with Aspergers (as he would not understand normal counselling, it wouldn't make sense to him from what I have read. Also, from experience, our mental health dept is not the best and I wanted to be sure they helped rather than making things worse) I was assured they would be trained in how to help an aspergers child / teen, however, the counsellor's opening line was "I'm not trained in aspergers but have learnt about it since working here" and "this is my student (cue young female student), you don't mind if she sits in" ummmmm kjaisgdihageuidg\kiwdbka\jbhs... really, you clearly have no idea about a teen with aspergers, meeting you is hard enough, meeting two new people, one being a young female student, NO!!!!! (sigh) After talking to us he suggested 3 sessions where he would teach my son some breathing exercises... ummm he doesn't know when he is anxious, it is more a low level anxiety caused by many things and when some extra like exams come up, or his dad doesn't call for weeks, it tips him over the edge and the nausea gets really bad... again no one is actually listening!! I would try again but it was a huge struggle to get my son to go to that initial appointment and the mere mention of it now sends him into a panic and he refuses to entertain the idea... exactly why I called in advance to ensure we got it right for him, once again another fail :(

 

Anyway... being these anxiety problems have been rolling on for 3 years (or more) a colleague at work suggested meds, initially I didn't want to go down that road but being things are so bad I think I would be irresponsible not to even consider it. My colleagues fiance is a pharmacist and suggested Beta-blockers to help control his anxiety, at least for school years. According to NAS, hopefully as his confidence grows from the Socialeyes course he attends with them and as he gets older anxiety will reduce, but in the meantime I would be keen to try this. Feeling sick all the time is most unpleasant for him and makes him feel miserable. Any advice on this?

 

Thanks for reading.

 

Jules

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Hi Juls

 

Maybe you could give this lady a call? www.valeriesutherland.com I have spoken to her myself in person although I've not used her services. She provides a counselling service with a specialism in working with younger people on the spectrum. My understanding is that she has children on the spectrum herself. It is private but if the NHS are unable to provide a service for your son which meets his needs it might be worth considering.

 

However, having undergone counselling and other forms of therapy myself in the past, I would suggest that doing 'general' counselling is helpful but I would agree that a more specific approach using knowledge of ASD would probably be more useful for your lad to help him learn to control his anxiety. It does sound like the professional wasn't clued up 'enough' if they invited another person to be present at your son's first meeting.

 

I'll be pming you later.

 

Lynda :)

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Have you phoned your childrens hosptial, clinical psychology department to ask them if they do have a CP or team that specifically works with children with Aspergers? They are rare, but they do exist. If there is someone/team, ask your GP for referal to them.

 

My son also sees a Child Psychotherapist in school. It is detailed in his Statement.

 

My son is also on meds for OCD and anxiety. He takes Sertraline. And it has helped reduce anxiety, but he is still OCD and has been for over a year now as we gradually increase the dosage. I'm hoping at some point the therapy/meds will start to reduce the OCD - or it could be something lifelong, which I really hope is not the case because it is so limiting.

 

But my son used to have anxiety/headaches/tummy pain/sickness and vomitting/nervous cough, nervous tics etc.

 

Can your son come up with anything that might help him. Can he identify any triggers or what might help him eg. moving to another class before the bell rings so he misses the chaos in the corridors. Having print outs of lesson plans, extra breaks or free time in a specific place such as the library, a TA that can check he knows what work he needs to do for the next day. Does the school have a homework club where an adult could help him organise and complete his homework.

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Hi Jules I just wondered if you rang that lady in the end? My husband was prescribed beta-blockers by his G.P. to help with anxiety and they do seem to help, so may be worth considering.

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I take betablockers for anxiety symptoms but I'm not sure they'd help for the sick feelings as I still get them! They control panic attacks and the adrenaline rush. Not sure these tabs would help? My son suffers with feeling sick too and I don't think I'd want him on these for that sensation. Have you tried those rescue remedy things? They're supposed to be good x

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My anxiety was so bad once, I was giving beta blockers. The side effects sounded scary, even if they are supposed to be rare occurrences. Rather than take them, I binned them. I also once bought a pill in a sex shop which was sold in a clear bag with no medical information, because I wanted to treat a personal problem I had with sex. The guy in the shop said to dissolve it under the tongue, but I never took that either. Basically, any medicine that will tamper with your mood or blood pressure and comes with zero factual information whatsoever is best avoided. Use natural remedies instead. They're reportedly better! :)

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