As the days went by, I started to notice small breakthroughs. My sister would do a little bit of schoolwork without me having to nag her, or she would attend a therapy session without putting up a fight. These small victories gave me hope that we were on the right track.
The turning point came around day 20. My sister had a particularly tough day, and she broke down in tears. She told me that she felt like she was failing, and that she didn't know if she could ever go back to school. I listened to her, and then I shared my own struggles with anxiety and school when I was her age. 30 Days With My School-Refusing Sister -Final-
I told her that I knew how she felt, and that I had been in her shoes. I reminded her that she wasn't alone, and that I was there to support her. For the first time, she opened up and talked about her fears and worries. It was a moment of raw emotion, but it was also a moment of connection. As the days went by, I started to notice small breakthroughs
As I look back on the past 30 days, I'm proud of what we accomplished. My sister is now attending school regularly, and she's on track to graduate. She's still struggling with anxiety, but she's learning to manage it. The turning point came around day 20