Son's Fear Is Getting Worse/Need Some Advice

[Guest guest]

My 12 year old son has a HUGE fear of germs, due in part to a teacher he had in 4th. grade who showed the class " The Sneeze: How Germs Spread " . He had a fear before then, but it got ALOT worse after that movie! It is a cartoon, and they show germs on hands of people as they touch things, and transfer the germs onto door knobs, and food. He is very visual like a lot of autistic kids are, so he visualizes these germs now on people I watched the video on Youtube, and I can see how he would be scared.

 

Now it has gotten to the point where he won't even let us hug him if we are wearing used clothing from a thrift store, and he won't even touch library books anymore. He told me the other day that he is afraid if he touches those things, his personality will change. He says that the person wearing that shirt could have sworn alot, and he is afraid he will start swearing. I am not sure how to handle this, or what to do to help him. Has anyone gone thru anything similar to this? My son is very sensitive to his emotions, and sometimes I wonder if he can really pick up others emotions, and that is why he is scared.

 

Thanks!Jenn