Can anyone give me any ideas on dealing with this?

[Amber85]

Ok, here goes, my DS is 5 and in P1(Scotland) he is being tested for an ASD, possibly Aspergers Syndrome, he has been off for 2 weeks holiday(end of term) and after he came home from the first day back at school he was continuously washing his hands up to every 2 minutes, I asked him why he was doing it, probably not the best idea of the day but you cant go back in time, he told me he was scared that the germs were going to eat his hands away, to this I said germs dont eat your hands away but this didnt work, he has calmed down a little with it now but is still washing his hands too frequently, I spoke to my health visitor but she had no useful advice that worked and I was wondering if there is any successful way anyone has found to reduce this issue in their own DS/DD?

[magso]

My son takes things very literally too. He got very worried about germs at one point after being given ABs for a sore finger. He was searching for the germs and panicking 'get them off'. I just had to explain in terms he could understand. In his case the medicine worked, the finger got better so it was easier.
Would explaining that his skin is very good at protecting his hands help? but that washing his hands at certain times is wise (toilet eating etc).
If once its explained he still wants to wash his hands excessivly perhaps the gp could help.

[ancientmiddleagedmum]

perhaps you could tell a white lie and tell him that if he puts on that dettox hand sanitiser once a day, plus washes hands after toilet and before eating, doctors say all bugs are kept away? I have a little bit of OCD and I tell myself stuff like that otherwise I too wash hands again and again!

[Amber85]

Thanks for the ideas, just picked up DS from school will see if these work

[allytjd]

My son (also being tested for AS) had an issue with hand washing and germs last year when he was six. i got his GP to refer him to CAMHS but by the time his appointment came up he had calmed down and stopped ( he felt the need to wash everytime his sticky toddler brother came near him!).
I explained everything very logically and told him all about immune systems and white blood cells etc. and this appealled to him as he likes science. As he has qiute a few irrational fears I also made up a quick story about the Knights of Truth slaying the Dragons of Fear with their swords of truth... or something like that... basically I used his interests as A way of explainning his feelings and what to do about them. I just have to say "remember the knights of truth" if he starts to get a bit agitated about something and he usually calms himself down (it distracts him at least!).

[Amber85]

allytjd, could you tell me a little more about these 'knights'

email : [email protected]

[allytjd]

amber
rushing out but will email you later, maybe we could have a chat on the phone? I am in scotland too so it might not be loing distance.

[sphil]

I did the same as Allytjd but with the aid of a book about the body which talked about good and bad bacteria etc. DS1 still gets a bit agitated if anyone mentions germs at school and he's very conscientious about washing his hands but it's not obsessive any more.