My anxious child starved himself

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By Thelma Etim BBC News, Berkshire Youngsters are taught to confront their anxieties

What does a mother do when her previously happy and healthy 10-year-old suddenly starts refusing food so that his weight drops to three and a half stones?

A desperate Mary Green (not her real name) pleaded, begged and then shouted at her only child, James: "Please eat something for mummy".

She knew he was anxious about something and she had to uncover the source of it quickly.

Mealtimes in the Green household had become a tearful battleground with uncharacteristic outbursts from her usually placid son.

"There were times when I found myself screaming at James, 'You will die' even though I knew I shouldn't have," explained Mrs Green.

"Three Weetabix had become half a biscuit at breakfast and he would only eat a few mouthfuls of food at dinnertime.

"He said he felt as if he would choke and die."

James's sudden apparent inability to eat had become so chronic his mother was liquidising anything containing mince - at his request - and spoon-feeding him.

His eczema, usually intermittent, was also flaring up on his hands, elbows and the back of his knees - another symptom of his acute distress.

That was two years ago.

At that time, neither Mrs Green nor her husband Giles, 47, knew their Year 5 son was "terrified" about sitting his national curriculum tests - the "Sats" - the following year.

"James did not relate his worries to his behaviour around food and therefore, could not articulate his feelings to us," said Mrs Green. He said he felt as if he would choke and die Mary Green

After two agonising months witnessing their son's body weight and confidence diminish, while their feelings of powerlessness and frustration increased, the Green's turned to their health visitor for help.

It was only when they were later referred to the Berkshire Child Anxiety Clinic (BCAC), based at the University of Reading, for an assessment, they realised their son was suffering from an anxiety disorder.

The BCAC, which treats anxious or depressed seven to 12-year-olds with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), had recently begun expanding its specialist service across the county after receiving £2m from the Medical Research Council.

The cash is being used to fund a trial, which involves the mother of a distressed child receiving eight sessions of CBT ahead of her child undergoing the same treatment.

"The treatment was aimed at getting James to identify his fear and what it feels like so he can recognise his anxiety, understand it and manage it in the future," added Mrs Green.

"James is dyslexic and has always had difficulty learning but I did blame myself over his problem because throughout my whole life I have been a fairly anxious person," explained Mrs Green.

"It was heart-breaking to see James had picked up some of my personality traits."

Children with anxiety often go undiagnosed in the school population

Not surprisingly, the 41-year-old from Newbury, was initially apprehensive about undergoing the therapy sessions but then relented.

"It was quite harrowing but it helped me confront my own anxieties and overcome them as well as empathise with James as he went through therapy, which is fundamental to the programme."

An anxiety disorder is a condition characterised by high levels of fear or worry that affects a child's day to day life.

Common disorders include separation anxiety - becoming clingy towards a parent fearing something will happen to them.

There are other specific phobias, where the youngster fears lifts or forms of transport and persistent worrying about issues such as school, attaining good grades and friendships.

Common symptoms include frequent tummy aches or headaches, feelings of panic, problems sleeping and concentrating.

Recent studies have suggested that anxiety disorders are the most common emotional difficulties experienced by children.

A three-year government study which monitored the emotional wellbeing of a sample of five to 16 years old between 2004 and 2007 revealed about 43% of those initially assessed also had a behavioural disorder in 2007.

The findings also showed anxiety disorders could be linked to numerous factors including achievement at school, family bereavement, divorce and serious physical illness.

'Amazing life skill'

YoungMinds, a national charity established in 1983 to improve the lives of youngsters experiencing mental health problems, believes anxiety is a problem "affecting thousands of children and young people every year".

"We received 4,000 calls on our parents' helpline last year and 15% of those were taken from adults concerned about their child's anxiety problems," a spokeswoman said.

Dr Lucy Willetts, clinical director of the clinic, said: "There is a sense generally among clinicians that the level of anxiety in children is increasing.

"Children with anxiety often go undiagnosed in the school population - for example, they are not disruptive in class."

Two years on, James has been making encouraging progress. His weight is gradually creeping up towards five stone and his anxiety levels have dropped.

"We have been taught an amazing life skill that everyone could use," added Mrs Green.