My grandson has never been the same since his dog died five years ago
DEAR DEIDRE: THE dog my grandson loved died five years ago and he hasn’t been the same since.
It’s as if his world ended.
I am his 72-year-old grandmother.
He was 12 when his dog had to be put down after a long illness.
At the time my son had trouble getting my grandson to go to school.
He refused to leave the house.
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Eventually he was sent to a specialist school and they discovered he had agoraphobia. He did very well there.
He is 17 now and is at college but is still reluctant to go out and if he does, he has to have someone with him.
My son insists he is fine but I think he treats him like a baby.
I feel he needs help, perhaps with a counsellor who can guide his recovery.
He still talks to me about his dog and I am certain his problems all stem from this unhappy time in his life.
How can I help him without it causing more problems?
MORE FROM DEAR DEIDRE
DEIDRE SAYS: The death of a pet is a hard time for young people but your grandson faces a very difficult future if he can’t leave the house alone.
It will add to his stress if he feels tension from the adults around him.
Agoraphobia is a common condition, but it shouldn’t stop your grandson from living his life.
You can talk to the Young Minds’ parents helpline (youngminds.org.uk, 0808 802 5544).
In the meantime, my support pack, Fears And Phobias explains more.