Guest guest Posted February 21, 2010 Report Share Posted February 21, 2010 For years I lay down with Karac until he went to sleep; he also slept with the covers over his face. He just finally got over it himself. Pat K Scared of the dark Caleb is like deathly afraid of the dark. It is really bad. He will pee in the bed because he is too scared to go to the bathroom. I've tried leaving the light in the bathroom on still doesn't help. He has learned to wake me up when he needs the bathroom. In order for him to go to sleep he has to wrap himself in the blanket and I have to be laying next to him. He wraps himself so tight that I'm scared he will suffocate. I have a hard time getting him out the blankets after he is asleep. We have tried everything. I show him how I lock all the doors, set the burglar alarm, look in the closets, under the beds, etc etc. Nothing has helped. I've even asked him what he is afraid of and all I get is "I'm afraid of the dark". I leave the lamp by my bed on for him. Oh and by the way yeah he still sleeps with us at night. He's not just afraid to go to sleep he can't stay in a ro om by himself once it gets dark outside. Has anyone had this problem? Any suggestions are appreciated. Gwen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 21, 2010 Report Share Posted February 21, 2010 My, son, ASD, is the opposite, every light in his roommust be off, even the light on the satellite receiver. Pitch Dark. My NT daughter on the other hand who is 9, sleeps best with some light and low noise. She did not have trouble going to sleep, as much as staying asleep. She would sleeo walk and talk a lot.It took a few years to find the right combination. For her, we put the TV on one of the SIRIUS music channels, which emits a soft blue light. For some reason this keeps her more soundly asleep. She takes a 3mg Melatonin and turns on the music. No more bed time Drama. My only advice is to take baby steps. First step is getting him in his room and bed,even if you have to move in there too temporarily, then transition yourself out and then work on the lighting. Will he sleep if all the lights are on. If he will, then assure him if he is in his own bed the lights can stay on all night. Why not, who says the lights have to be out. Life with an Autie gives us the freedom to think and live outside the Box if we need to. Good Luck. -- www.sahmatlast.blogspot.com Russian Adoption was our Option. Live and Love everyday! ---- pkuenstler@... wrote: ============= For years I lay down with Karac until he went to sleep; he also slept with the covers over his face. He just finally got over it himself. Pat K Scared of the dark Caleb is like deathly afraid of the dark. It is really bad. He will pee in the bed because he is too scared to go to the bathroom. I've tried leaving the light in the bathroom on still doesn't help. He has learned to wake me up when he needs the bathroom. In order for him to go to sleep he has to wrap himself in the blanket and I have to be laying next to him. He wraps himself so tight that I'm scared he will suffocate. I have a hard time getting him out the blankets after he is asleep. We have tried everything. I show him how I lock all the doors, set the burglar alarm, look in the closets, under the beds, etc etc. Nothing has helped. I've even asked him what he is afraid of and all I get is " I'm afraid of the dark " . I leave the lamp by my bed on for him. Oh and by the way yeah he still sleeps with us at night. He's not just afraid to go to sleep he can't stay in a ro om by himself once it gets dark outside. Has anyone had this problem? Any suggestions are appreciated. Gwen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 21, 2010 Report Share Posted February 21, 2010 Gwen, My son was terrified of any monsters in his room. He also slept on the floor next to mine and my husband bed. My MIL who lives next door came up with an idea. She come over with a plastic walmart bag yelling for the monsters to watch out, here I come! She'd look in closet, under beds, etc... until she found the imaginary monster and swooped it up into the bag. She then threw it out the door and say never come back. My son has progressed to where he will do the routine, without the bag, and throw the monsters outside and scream never come back. LOL It is so cute. But it works. He sleeps in his own room with only a nightlight. Scared of the dark Caleb is like deathly afraid of the dark. It is really bad. He will pee in the bed because he is too scared to go to the bathroom. I've tried leaving the light in the bathroom on still doesn't help. He has learned to wake me up when he needs the bathroom. In order for him to go to sleep he has to wrap himself in the blanket and I have to be laying next to him. He wraps himself so tight that I'm scared he will suffocate. I have a hard time getting him out the blankets after he is asleep. We have tried everything. I show him how I lock all the doors, set the burglar alarm, look in the closets, under the beds, etc etc. Nothing has helped. I've even asked him what he is afraid of and all I get is "I'm afraid of the dark". I leave the lamp by my bed on for him. Oh and by the way yeah he still sleeps with us at night. He's not just afraid to go to sleep he can't stay in a ro om by himself once it gets dark outside. Has anyone had this problem? Any suggestions are appreciated. Gwen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 21, 2010 Report Share Posted February 21, 2010 Perhaps you could lay down on his bed with him and read him some stories or stay with him until he falls asleep. How old is he? Also keep his light on. Just a suggestion. From: "crmbueno@..." <crmbueno@...>autism Sent: Sun, February 21, 2010 3:47:59 AMSubject: Re: Scared of the dark Gwen, My son was terrified of any monsters in his room. He also slept on the floor next to mine and my husband bed. My MIL who lives next door came up with an idea. She come over with a plastic walmart bag yelling for the monsters to watch out, here I come! She'd look in closet, under beds, etc... until she found the imaginary monster and swooped it up into the bag. She then threw it out the door and say never come back. My son has progressed to where he will do the routine, without the bag, and throw the monsters outside and scream never come back. LOL It is so cute. But it works. He sleeps in his own room with only a nightlight. Scared of the dark Caleb is like deathly afraid of the dark. It is really bad. He will pee in the bed because he is too scared to go to the bathroom. I've tried leaving the light in the bathroom on still doesn't help. He has learned to wake me up when he needs the bathroom. In order for him to go to sleep he has to wrap himself in the blanket and I have to be laying next to him. He wraps himself so tight that I'm scared he will suffocate. I have a hard time getting him out the blankets after he is asleep. We have tried everything. I show him how I lock all the doors, set the burglar alarm, look in the closets, under the beds, etc etc. Nothing has helped. I've even asked him what he is afraid of and all I get is "I'm afraid of the dark". I leave the lamp by my bed on for him. Oh and by the way yeah he still sleeps with us at night. He's not just afraid to go to sleep he can't stay in a ro om by himself once it gets dark outside. Has anyone had this problem? Any suggestions are appreciated. Gwen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 21, 2010 Report Share Posted February 21, 2010 What a wonderful, imaginative creative MIL you have. LOL, Pat K Scared of the dark Caleb is like deathly afraid of the dark. It is really bad. He will pee in the bed because he is too scared to go to the bathroom. I've tried leaving the light in the bathroom on still doesn't help. He has learned to wake me up when he needs the bathroom. In order for him to go to sleep he has to wrap himself in the blanket and I have to be laying next to him. He wraps himself so tight that I'm scared he will suffocate. I have a hard time getting him out the blankets after he is asleep. We have tried everything. I show him how I lock all the doors, set the burglar alarm, look in the closets, under the beds, etc etc. Nothing has helped. I've even asked him what he is afraid of and all I get is "I'm afraid of the dark". I leave the lamp by my bed on for him. Oh and by the way yeah he still sleeps with us at night. He's not just afraid to go to sleep he can't stay in a ro om by himself once it gets dark outside. Has anyone had this problem? Any suggestions are appreciated. Gwen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 21, 2010 Report Share Posted February 21, 2010  When Noah(NT & 7) was younger he was frightened of the dark so we bought a small spray bottle( coloured and a cool shape) from the dollar store and made a "no scarey " mixture from water and lavendar essential oils and Noah would spray this in the room before going to bed while saying a "spell" to chase the "scareys" away. He kept the bottle close to him to use as needed and just having the control himself over his fears seemed to make the difference. Scared of the dark Caleb is like deathly afraid of the dark. It is really bad. He will pee in the bed because he is too scared to go to the bathroom. I've tried leaving the light in the bathroom on still doesn't help. He has learned to wake me up when he needs the bathroom. In order for him to go to sleep he has to wrap himself in the blanket and I have to be laying next to him. He wraps himself so tight that I'm scared he will suffocate. I have a hard time getting him out the blankets after he is asleep. We have tried everything. I show him how I lock all the doors, set the burglar alarm, look in the closets, under the beds, etc etc. Nothing has helped. I've even asked him what he is afraid of and all I get is "I'm afraid of the dark". I leave the lamp by my bed on for him. Oh and by the way yeah he still sleeps with us at night. He's not just afraid to go to sleep he can't stay in a ro om by himself once it gets dark outside. Has anyone had this problem? Any suggestions are appreciated. Gwen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 21, 2010 Report Share Posted February 21, 2010 aahhh poor little guy...poor mama and dad to. This is not fun for anyone. I talked about a spray bottle we made up for Noah in another post and maybe something similiar would help Caleb. It really sounds as if he needs that element of control over his environment. We never really addressed the issue as "monsters' but rather scareys and this way it lessens the visual a bit and Noah uses the spray for a variety of situations that make him nervous or uneasy..i.e going to the dentist.LOL. He just sprays a bit on his shoes and that helps carry him thro. Would a relaxation program with appropriate sensory imput done in the evening( or throughout the day) help Caleb?.. Maybe some soft music added into the mix?.. inal Message ----- From: Gwen Hebert Sent: Saturday, February 20, 2010 10:43 PM Subject: Scared of the dark Caleb is like deathly afraid of the dark. It is really bad. He will pee in the bed because he is too scared to go to the bathroom. I've tried leaving the light in the bathroom on still doesn't help. He has learned to wake me up when he needs the bathroom. In order for him to go to sleep he has to wrap himself in the blanket and I have to be laying next to him. He wraps himself so tight that I'm scared he will suffocate. I have a hard time getting him out the blankets after he is asleep. We have tried everything. I show him how I lock all the doors, set the burglar alarm, look in the closets, under the beds, etc etc. Nothing has helped. I've even asked him what he is afraid of and all I get is "I'm afraid of the dark". I leave the lamp by my bed on for him. Oh and by the way yeah he still sleeps with us at night. He's not just afraid to go to sleep he can't stay in a room by himself once it gets dark outside. Has anyone had this problem? Any suggestions are appreciated. Gwen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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