Dear Friend,
Today your son had another panic attack when you tried to drop him off at elementary school.
You ended up having to leave the school with him, drop big sister off at her school, pull over for a gentle chat with him, agree on a new plan for how the new drop off would go, drive back to his school, follow the plan, scrap the plan when he panicked again, and engage the amazing partners at his school to coax him into staying in the office in the hopes that eventually he might make it to class. You were finally able to leave 50 minutes after school began. Was that a victory? You guess so. At least you didn't end up taking him home. You were determined that fear wouldn't win.
You've been around this block for many years now. Thankfully, these episodes are less frequent now, but they still break your heart.
You sat in your car and cried.
Here's a kid who is genuinely happy most of the time but who also has these moments of complete panic. Something triggers his brain and that's it. Whatever he wanted to do 10 minutes ago seems to him impossible to accomplish now.
This is something he will have to overcome in his life. You will support him in prayer and strategies, but ultimately this is a battle he will have to fight.
I recently saw a documentary about a man who had stuttered when he was young. He worked at it and worked at it by talking and talking and talking some more. Decades later he had become a famous speaker. Although he still makes frequent gaffs, he keeps on talking, determined not to let fear stop him.
You try to imagine your son decades from now with his panic attacks behind him, having won many battles and the whole war. Is it possible? I believe it is with God's help.
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4
In the middle of your marathon of perseverance, I pray that you feel strengthened to face it. God has already given you everything you need to overcome it. With his help, you will.
Love,
Your Friend