Sudden onset school anxiety in 7 year old

[help5871]

About 3 weeks ago, my 7 year old son suddenly developed an anxiety about going to school.  Once he gets to school and up to class, he is fine and functions as he always has.  The problem has suddenly appeared in the morning getting to school and his refusal to separate from me.  Up till now, he has always biked or walked to school with his sister or other friends and I would only go on occasion.  Now, he will not go on his own or with his sister and he will not go into the building with his classmates.  We usually end up in the office with a staff member having to remove him in some way if he is clinging or with me hiding out in the office while they get him to class.  Once he is there, he is just fine, social and participates as he always has.  I do not pick him up after school either (never have unless raining) and he comes home in a good mood.  Also, I have given him a special item of mine to hold in his pocket all day, but that hasn't seemed to help either.  I was volunteering regularly in his class on a weekly basis, but now all this has come to a halt due to this behavior/anxiety about separating from me and going to class.  
We are trying to get a referral to a pediatrician with psych background and are also in the process of getting some kind of counseling. However, I will say he was very resistant and unresponsive during our initial visit to the counseling center.  This situation is very frustrating and emotionally draining as a parent and I cannot pinpoint anything leading up to the beginning of this behavior that might be causing it.  I did have 2 days over the past 3 weeks that he did willingly get out of the car, but this week it has all been back to square one.  Any suggestions or ideas would be greatly appreciated!

[jdtm]

If anxiety is the issue, I assure you that you will be dealing with "separation anxiety" in September, except it probably will be worse.  After a sustained holiday (or even a week-end away from school or any perceived stressful environment), anxiety increases when the child is re-introduced into the formerly, stressful environment.  Your second posting indicates that your son's level of anxiety is greater than I previously thought (although I have seen far,far worse).  It is also possible that your child is getting bullied or teased to some extent while at school - this often occurs as our anxiety-ridden children proceed through school without proper treatment.  

I feel you really should continue trying to get a a referral to to a medical specialist with experience in anxiety disorders because frankly, (in child anxiety years for ease of treatment), your child is "not young" and therefore, other methods of treatment may be required (other than intervention).  I am talking about medication (and don't be afraid of this if necessary - after all, it appears your son is unable to function at school and may require more help than intervention and therapy).  You are correct about one thing - anxiety is very common and highly treatable but the earlier the diagnosis, the better the prognosis, and the faster the solution.  One more thing - if anxiety is the issue, your child will not outgrow it nor will it go away but with treatment (and treating a child for anxiety is not that scary or difficult), your son can lead a much more relaxed and "social" life (but I'm talking years, not months).  

If you have any other questions, please write - I  do not have all of the answers but I have a lot of experience with this issue.  Wishing you the best ....

[help5871]

Well, the school wanted me to stop because the first couple of times we tried to get him back into class, I was confined to the classroom & he would not let me go out to read with kids or even leave the room as I have done in the past.  He and his sister have always biked and walked to school up until a few weeks ago...I did not have to escort them on a daily basis.  Thanks for the above suggestion of perhaps getting back into the classroom, I can suggest that approach.  The past couple of days the anxiety is spreading to the home environment as well - him not wanting me to go anywhere I can barely leave the room without him being concerned about where I am going.  
Thanks for your suggestions...I have been googling these types of phrases and have heard that it is quite common for this age.  Hopefully come September we won't be dealing with this same issue...

[jdtm]

I was volunteering regularly in his class on a weekly basis, but now all this has come to a halt due to this behavior/anxiety about separating from me and going to class. --  your words.  

Why have you stopped volunteering in his class?  It appears as if your son is suffering from separation anxiety.  If anxiety is the issue, I suspect it is nature (not nurture) which is at the root (in other words, most often anxiety is a genetic predisposition  inherited at birth;  it is not caused by life experience), so there probably will be no specific event to pinpoint.  I am wondering about the "counselling session" - usually a therapist (counsellor) instructs the parent (not the child) on how to intervene and learn "tactics" on how to lesson the child's anxiety (by the way, volunteering in the classroom probably  lessened your son's anxiety - this is one form of intervention).  I doubt if your son was "resistant and unresponsive" to the therapy; I suspect he was overwhelmed and scared.  I think it is wise to get a referral to a medical professional with experience in anxiety issues as a child psychiatrist.  If it is any consolation, your son appears not to be "severe" in his anxiety level (at least far less anxiety-ridden than our child and today, she is just fine).

I might suggest googling phrases/words as "childhood anxiety disorders" or "separation anxiety" or similar words/phrases if you have not already done so.   School will soon be over for the year so the best advice I can give you would be to try and be patient with your son.   I  wish you  the best ....