Re: Self Injury

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/24/02 2:25:49 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

writes:

> I have been

> dealing with the self-injurous behaviors of

> hair-pulling, biting, and head banging for a couple of

> years now. The biting is the worst as his hands and

> arms are always accesible. I have tried mittens on

> his hands, so then he started biting his arms. I then

> covered his arms with thick sock material and mittens

> on his hands so then he moved the fabric and bit

> anyway.

Hi Lyn, is your son on any type of medication? Sorry to say this, but I just

can't see how any child or parent can suffer with these behaviors and not

have any help from meds. My neighbor has a daughter, not DS but MR just the

same, who is 22 on a 5 yr. old level and she bites her fingernails down to

the nub and picks at them and her toenails.....she often gets

infections......she is not on any med's except for Tegretol for petit mal

seizures.

It sounds as though your son may have OCD or is anxiety ridden and this is

how he tries to calm himself.

JMHO,

[Guest guest]

> In a message dated 5/24/02 2:25:49 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

> @y... writes:

>

>

> > I have been

> > dealing with the self-injurous behaviors of

> > hair-pulling, biting, and head banging for a couple of

> > years now. The biting is the worst as his hands and

> > arms are always accesible. I have tried mittens on

> > his hands, so then he started biting his arms. I then

> > covered his arms with thick sock material and mittens

> > on his hands so then he moved the fabric and bit

> > anyway.

>

> Hi Lyn, is your son on any type of medication? Sorry to say this,

but I just

> can't see how any child or parent can suffer with these behaviors

and not

> have any help from meds. My neighbor has a daughter, not DS but MR

just the

> same, who is 22 on a 5 yr. old level and she bites her fingernails

down to

> the nub and picks at them and her toenails.....she often gets

> infections......she is not on any med's except for Tegretol for

petit mal

> seizures.

>

> It sounds as though your son may have OCD or is anxiety ridden and

this is

> how he tries to calm himself.

>

> JMHO,

>

>

Dear ,

I do not believe my son is OCD if this stands for Obsessive

Compulsive Disorder. As my 22mo. old daughter is extreme OCD, I am

very much familiar with it.

He does however exhibit definite anxiety at certain situations,

and also he bites in communicative frustrations at clearly obvious

times of need or distress. We are continually trying to teach other

means of communicationg but he doesn't respond in effort of his own

accord except to react instantly with biting himself.

Re; medications and treating behavioral problems: Because my son

Josiah has had extensive neurological and physical damage done by

nearly every drug given him; causing seizures, loss of muscle tone,

respiratory damage, etc. I am not willing to risk causing him major

life threatening set-backs (if not death) to try and control his

behavior problems with drugs. After the horrid life he lived (and us

to, having to witness his daily state of torment) because of drug

treatments the first three years of his life, I do not want to

risk " going from the frying pan straight into the FIRE! "

Re the OCD: My daughter drives me NUTS!!! Any help out there on

this topic? Thanks for the concern though , and no it is not

at all easy to see your child suffer anxiety and frustrations to the

point of self-injury inflictions but neither is watching seizures fry

brain cells on an hourly basis for 16 very long months, knowing if

they don't stop soon he will die and wondering what will be left of

him if and when they do stop... One day at a time...

Lyn Mom to JM-17, Josiah-5 DS/ASD, Tabitha 22mo OCD!

>

[Guest guest]

Does he hurt himself when he's angry or just for no reason? My 13 year old with AS used to bite his arm when he got mad during the playing of video games if he started to lose but he stopped that about a year ago. He also used to throw his controller across the room, and broke many in the process, but that he stopped doing also. What exactly is he doing, and is he showing aggresion toward others? Is he going through a rough time right now for some reason? I would seek help for him if he is to the point of hurting himself badly. Keep us posted. Your son is in my prayers. Ginger <twinmom@...> wrote:

My 13yo AS son has begun to hurt himself intentionally. Has anyone else had this happen? Could you offer any insight or encouragement. It's got me pretty scared.Ginger

[Guest guest]

If it was me, I'd get him help right away. A lot of times these brain disorders come in threes, and he could have an undiagnosed mood disorder as well. The same thing happened to my son. He would get so stressed and frustrated with himself that he would begin to hurt himself. He would bang his head on things, punch himself and try to pull out his hair. It was VERY scary to watch and we would try desperately to get him to stop. One day he ran out of the house to a busy road and tried to get hit by a car. The next day he was put on mood stabilizing meds, and got a lot of counseling....ongoing. He now longer hurts himself. We were very lucky. It had all escalated so quickly and we got him help just in time. I urge you not to hesitate to get him help.

Tracey

Self Injury

My 13yo AS son has begun to hurt himself intentionally. Has anyone else had this happen? Could you offer any insight or encouragement. It's got me pretty scared.Ginger

[Guest guest]

It seems to be happening when he's feeling out of control. He has

lost control a couple of times at school in the last 2 weeks, but

feels he has no control over his outbursts. After his outbursts he

feels pretty allianated because the other kids don't know how to

react and just tell him he's psycho. He's VERY interested in girls

(began puberty at 10) and often feels rejected and/or jealous about a

girl. If she doesn't return his feelings, or he THINKS she's dissing

him, he gets angry/hurt and then hurts himself. I think it's an

outward sign of how he's feeling internally.

Can anyone suggest any books for boosting self esteem that are

written for teenagers? Any other ideas? We'll be seeking

professional help, but haven't had much success with that in the

past. Hopefully we'll find someone who can reach J.C. and help him

thru this very difficult time.

Thanks for your concern and prayers.

In His grace,

Ginger

> Does he hurt himself when he's angry or just for no reason? My 13

year old with AS used to bite his arm when he got mad during the

playing of video games if he started to lose but he stopped that

about a year ago. He also used to throw his controller across the

room, and broke many in the process, but that he stopped doing also.

What exactly is he doing, and is he showing aggresion toward others?

Is he going through a rough time right now for some reason? I would

seek help for him if he is to the point of hurting himself badly.

Keep us posted. Your son is in my prayers.

[Guest guest]

I guess my son used to do that with his game contoller and bite his arm cause he felt out of control with his games. He has not showed any interest in girls yet though. I would definately seek help, it could get worse or possibly him hurting himself or someone else. Ginger <twinmom@...> wrote:

It seems to be happening when he's feeling out of control. He has lost control a couple of times at school in the last 2 weeks, but feels he has no control over his outbursts. After his outbursts he feels pretty allianated because the other kids don't know how to react and just tell him he's psycho. He's VERY interested in girls (began puberty at 10) and often feels rejected and/or jealous about a girl. If she doesn't return his feelings, or he THINKS she's dissing him, he gets angry/hurt and then hurts himself. I think it's an outward sign of how he's feeling internally. Can anyone suggest any books for boosting self esteem that are written for teenagers? Any other ideas? We'll be seeking professional help, but haven't had much success with that in the past. Hopefully we'll find someone who can

reach J.C. and help him thru this very difficult time.Thanks for your concern and prayers.In His grace, Ginger> Does he hurt himself when he's angry or just for no reason? My 13 year old with AS used to bite his arm when he got mad during the playing of video games if he started to lose but he stopped that about a year ago. He also used to throw his controller across the room, and broke many in the process, but that he stopped doing also. What exactly is he doing, and is he showing aggresion toward others? Is he going through a rough time right now for some reason? I would seek help for him if he is to the point of hurting himself badly. Keep us posted. Your son is in my prayers.

[Guest guest]

Steve used to bite things or bang his head on the wall

or floor when he was younger. He has stopped doing

that now..but still has the outbursts of temper. He

was in an intensive Inpatient program 4 years ago and

that helped him to get in touch with how much control

he really has. Now we can talk him out of most

outbursts..not all but most. He still digs his heels

in and won't budge when he feels threatened or feels

he is not being heard. He still has other AS symptoms,

OC and ADHD..but at least it's more manageable. He was

in the program for 6 months coming home only on the

weekends.

Jen

--- Ginger <twinmom@...> wrote:

> It seems to be happening when he's feeling out of

> control. He has

> lost control a couple of times at school in the last

> 2 weeks, but

> feels he has no control over his outbursts. After

> his outbursts he

> feels pretty allianated because the other kids don't

> know how to

> react and just tell him he's psycho. He's VERY

> interested in girls

> (began puberty at 10) and often feels rejected

> and/or jealous about a

> girl. If she doesn't return his feelings, or he

> THINKS she's dissing

> him, he gets angry/hurt and then hurts himself. I

> think it's an

> outward sign of how he's feeling internally.

>

> Can anyone suggest any books for boosting self

> esteem that are

> written for teenagers? Any other ideas? We'll be

> seeking

> professional help, but haven't had much success with

> that in the

> past. Hopefully we'll find someone who can reach

> J.C. and help him

> thru this very difficult time.

>

> Thanks for your concern and prayers.

> In His grace,

> Ginger

>

> > Does he hurt himself when he's angry or just for

> no reason? My 13

> year old with AS used to bite his arm when he got

> mad during the

> playing of video games if he started to lose but he

> stopped that

> about a year ago. He also used to throw his

> controller across the

> room, and broke many in the process, but that he

> stopped doing also.

> What exactly is he doing, and is he showing

> aggresion toward others?

> Is he going through a rough time right now for some

> reason? I would

> seek help for him if he is to the point of hurting

> himself badly.

> Keep us posted. Your son is in my prayers.

>

>

>

>

>

>

__________________________________

- PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005

http://mail.

[Guest guest]

Hello Ginger,

My AS son also self harms, and has done for about 7/8 yrs. It has got better

in time and not so frequent. But i have found that when BJ is anxious,upset

or worried about anything thats when the self harming is increased. You

could see if anything is bothering your son to trigger it off.

I also found that if i ignore what his done or doing to himself and dont

make an issue of it, he does it less and less.

Best wishes Netty

>From: " Ginger " <twinmom@...>

>Reply-Autism and Aspergers Treatment

>Autism and Aspergers Treatment

>Subject: Self Injury

>Date: Mon, 12 Sep 2005 04:39:29 -0000

>

>My 13yo AS son has begun to hurt himself intentionally. Has anyone

>else had this happen? Could you offer any insight or encouragement.

>It's got me pretty scared.

>

>Ginger

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I've done a lot of work with teens who have various mental illnesses, and self injury is something we see a lot with depression, although more in girls than boys. Depression is an unfortunate companion to many with AS and can worsen in adolescence. Since your son may not be able appropriately express feelings of sadness, it's possible the self injury could be his expression. Many of the meds Psychiatrists are tempted to use to help ASD people sleep better can cause some very bad depression or leave the person agitated and anxious the next day, and since AS people can't always appropriately communicate how they feel, tantrums and other behavior problems may ensue.

Re: Re: Self Injury

I guess my son used to do that with his game contoller and bite his arm cause he felt out of control with his games. He has not showed any interest in girls yet though. I would definately seek help, it could get worse or possibly him hurting himself or someone else. Ginger <twinmom@...> wrote: It seems to be happening when he's feeling out of control. He has lost control a couple of times at school in the last 2 weeks, but feels he has no control over his outbursts. After his outbursts he feels pretty allianated because the other kids don't know how to react and just tell him he's psycho. He's VERY interested in girls (began puberty at 10) and often feels rejected and/or jealous about a girl. If she doesn't return his feelings, or he THINKS she's dissing him, he gets angry/hurt and then hurts himself. I think it's an outward sign of how he's feeling internally. Can anyone suggest any books for boosting self esteem that are written for teenagers? Any other ideas? We'll be seeking professional help, but haven't had much success with that in the past. Hopefully we'll find someone who can reach J.C. and help him thru this very difficult time.Thanks for your concern and prayers.In His grace, Ginger> Does he hurt himself when he's angry or just for no reason? My 13 year old with AS used to bite his arm when he got mad during the playing of video games if he started to lose but he stopped that about a year ago. He also used to throw his controller across the room, and broke many in the process, but that he stopped doing also. What exactly is he doing, and is he showing aggresion toward others? Is he going through a rough time right now for some reason? I would seek help for him if he is to the point of hurting himself badly. Keep us posted. Your son is in my prayers.

[Guest guest]

My 10 yr old AS cousin has done this on and off, his is mostly

triggered by anxiety or boredom...anti-anxiety meds made a world of

difference for him...he still peels his skin off his fingers when he's

bored or nervous though.

Amnesty

> My 13yo AS son has begun to hurt himself intentionally. Has anyone

> else had this happen? Could you offer any insight or encouragement.

> It's got me pretty scared.

>

> Ginger