Please accept my apologies because I realize my situation is not anywhere near as serious as many of yours. Nonetheless, I'm concerned about our upcoming trip.
Are there any accommodations that can be made for a 10 year old with extreme anxiety problems? He sees a psychologist weekly, and a psychiatrist she recommended we see wants to give him antidepressants for his anxiety. According to the psychiatrist, he has a general anxiety disorder along with elements of OCD and post traumatic stress syndrome (the kids and I were in the vicinity of a mass murder about 18 months ago and had to deal with a very frightening experience). He also suffers from several phobias. His anxiety has become worse in the last year or so (it's what prompted us to get him into therapy).
DH and I do not want to use meds on him at this stage, so we're working on the therapy. DS uses a number of relaxation techniques when he becomes stressed to help him calm down, but I've also learned that in some instances, these techniques do not work that well.
My issue is how to manage WDW when we visit this December. He's been before and has struggled in some situations. He panics in crowds in particular, so the evening shows are stressful. Since we're going at Xmas, I know there will be lots of crowds. So I'm doing my best to avoid the problems I can before we get there by planning well.
That means we booked the Wishes Dessert Party so he can view fireworks without being in the crowds on Main Street or in front of the castle. We will then wait for the area to clear out before leaving. I booked the Candlelight Processional dinner package so we don't have to deal with waiting in crowded areas for that show and Illuminations afterwards.
Rides present a different concern. On past visits, I have done my best in the past to arrive early, use FPs, and really steer clear of large groups of people in the lines, but on our August visit, we had an issue in the Toy Store Mania line where he had a panic attack because of all the people in the line. I am concerned that at Christmas, we will certainly encounter large groups of people in lines even if we take the steps I usually use. He can wait without incident if the line is outside, for instance (and is actually pretty patient), but he cannot handle the crowds without becoming upset and worrying and experiencing a real panic attack.
Will guest services give us a GAC for him so that we can wait outside of the crowds if necessary? If so, what should I tell them? He's not autistic, and he does not have any visible disability, but he does have a serious anxiety disorder which we're trying to help him manage.
Thanks for your help.
Are there any accommodations that can be made for a 10 year old with extreme anxiety problems? He sees a psychologist weekly, and a psychiatrist she recommended we see wants to give him antidepressants for his anxiety. According to the psychiatrist, he has a general anxiety disorder along with elements of OCD and post traumatic stress syndrome (the kids and I were in the vicinity of a mass murder about 18 months ago and had to deal with a very frightening experience). He also suffers from several phobias. His anxiety has become worse in the last year or so (it's what prompted us to get him into therapy).
DH and I do not want to use meds on him at this stage, so we're working on the therapy. DS uses a number of relaxation techniques when he becomes stressed to help him calm down, but I've also learned that in some instances, these techniques do not work that well.
My issue is how to manage WDW when we visit this December. He's been before and has struggled in some situations. He panics in crowds in particular, so the evening shows are stressful. Since we're going at Xmas, I know there will be lots of crowds. So I'm doing my best to avoid the problems I can before we get there by planning well.
That means we booked the Wishes Dessert Party so he can view fireworks without being in the crowds on Main Street or in front of the castle. We will then wait for the area to clear out before leaving. I booked the Candlelight Processional dinner package so we don't have to deal with waiting in crowded areas for that show and Illuminations afterwards.
Rides present a different concern. On past visits, I have done my best in the past to arrive early, use FPs, and really steer clear of large groups of people in the lines, but on our August visit, we had an issue in the Toy Store Mania line where he had a panic attack because of all the people in the line. I am concerned that at Christmas, we will certainly encounter large groups of people in lines even if we take the steps I usually use. He can wait without incident if the line is outside, for instance (and is actually pretty patient), but he cannot handle the crowds without becoming upset and worrying and experiencing a real panic attack.
Will guest services give us a GAC for him so that we can wait outside of the crowds if necessary? If so, what should I tell them? He's not autistic, and he does not have any visible disability, but he does have a serious anxiety disorder which we're trying to help him manage.
Thanks for your help.
to disABILITIES!
. We go for Christmas/NYE every year. But no one in my family has anxiety issues and I LOVE crowds. I know, I'm weird that way. 
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