I lost count of how many waiting rooms I sat in over the years. Different building, same beige chairs, same rehearsed version of the story - hoping this time, someone would say the thing that finally made it make sense. Most of what I was offered in those rooms was aimed at her thoughts, her behaviour, her compliance. Kind, well-meaning, genuinely trying to help. Almost none of it started with her body - with the alarm that was actually driving everything underneath. I found the thing that changed it by going looking myself, not in any of those rooms. She missed over 100 days of school that year. She’s at university now - her first choice. If you’re still sitting in one of those rooms, still hoping this appointment is the one, I want you to know there’s a way through it that doesn’t start with another waiting room. - Jules ❤️ #schoolrefusal #schoolanxiety #schoolstress #teenmentalhealth #kidsmentalhealth