Servere regression in 6 year old

I have a son who is going to be 6 years in about 2 weeks.  I am at my wits end, he cannot stay dry during the day.  At night he will even wake up to go to the toilet.  I have tried everything under the moon from rewards, charts, punishment and nothing seems to work.  We have been at this game for over a year now, soon he will start school and i am so scared for him that he will be laughted at in school.  We have gone back to diapers, is this a good thing or a bad thing, and whére can I get help?  We have an appointment with a psychiatrist in about a months time.  It is really hard to stay cool and calm, there is alot of tension between my husband and I, does enyone have suggestions on what we can do?  At this point I am willing to try anything.

Worried and tired mum.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

The appointment with the psychiatrist is OK, but really this is almost always more of a medical/developmental concern than a sign of emotional unrest. If he appears to be invested in the notion of training, continue with the behavioral, reward-based approach. Was he ever dry during the day? Is this really a regression, or was he never entirely trained?

Don't worry at all about the nocturnal enuresis. At his age,there really is nothing to do about this but be patient. When he's a little older there are some options re: medicine, but the general thought is not to emply them with someone as young as he is.

[mamie413]

Thanks for the quick reply, your answer about him not being entirely trained got me thinking.  i have never thought of it from this point of view.  If I think that he was not entirély potty trained, what would you suggest I do?  Do i continue with the reward-based approach, or should I start the potty training all over from the very beginning?  By the way by the  time he was 4  he was fully potty trained.  He has been dry during the day.  I also do not want to resort to medicine.  

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Yes, continue the reward-based approach.  Also, recall what helped him the first time you went throught his and repeat whatever it was that 'worked'.

[mamie413]

Thanks again, I cannot remember what worked the first time, he was laughted at in Kindergarden today,  and I have deceided to use underwear again.  It is really really hard to try and stay calm and collected during all this, but I will give it a try.