She is 17 now. She still gets nervous on Sundays. She still uses her noise-canceling headphones during assemblies. But she graduated. She has friends who understand her boundaries. And she reminded our family that
Give yourself 30 days. Not to fix them. But to listen. You might be surprised what you hear when you stop demanding shoes and start asking about the weight of the world. If you or someone you know is struggling with school refusal, contact a child psychologist or your local school district’s special education department. You are not alone, and 2021 taught us that resilience is built in the quiet moments, not the attendance records. 30 days with my schoolrefusing sister final 2021
We saw a psychologist via Zoom (because even therapists were backed up for months). The diagnosis: Anxiety Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, exacerbated by school trauma. The prescription: Not a pill, but exposure therapy . She is 17 now