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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be worried about my 7 year olds hallucinations?

26 replies

sunshine99789 · 01/11/2018 20:45

It started this week that my 7 year old is saying he can see a troll.

This started at night time (he hadnt yet been to sleep) and at first I thought he may have been having me on.

As the week has progressed he is seeing the 'troll' more and more and also during the day. He is getting quite upset about it as the troll is trying to hurt 2 other people and my boy thinks he has to save them but no matter what he does,the troll ends up hurting the other 2 people. He knows the troll is in his imagination and the troll isnt trying to hurt him but he is really upset that he keeps seeing this.

AIBU to be worried or is this normal?

OP posts:
Booboostwo · 01/11/2018 20:53

It’s probably an overactive imagination but I would take him to the GP. There probably isn’t a physical cause, but if it is caused by stress and anxiety there might be some help available.

Tomselleckhaskindeyes · 01/11/2018 20:55

Is your child physically well? Any temperatures, bumps to the head? I think you need to go to the doctors as it could be the first sign of a physical illness.

Mumminmum · 01/11/2018 20:57

has he had problems with an over active imagination before? As far as I understand they do have mental health A&Es but I donn't know how to find one.

Original poster
sunshine99789 · 01/11/2018 20:57

He is absolutley fine in himself, no temp or anything.
He did have slight congestion a few days ago but seems to have cleared with a couple of saline sprays

OP posts:
Original poster
sunshine99789 · 01/11/2018 21:00

He is the least imaginative child I know to be honest!

OP posts:
ShesABelter · 01/11/2018 21:01

I'd take him to the gp tomorrow if it's to the extent he's getting upset.

SomeKnobend · 01/11/2018 21:03

Are the two people real? Did they get hurt in real life? What does ds do to stop these people getting hurt - is that putting himself in danger or risking hurting them himself?

sonicshoegazes · 01/11/2018 21:03

I don't want to alarm you but my daughter started having hallucinations at 10...they have carried on and at 14 they have found a large simple (thankfully) cyst on her brain. She needs to get it operated on.

Please take him to the drs! MRI will be needed. It may be nothing but I wish I fought for my daughter to get one sooner.

Stompythedinosaur · 01/11/2018 21:04

It is very unlikely to be psychosis at age 7, but certainly take him to the GP if worried. It is more likely to be vivid imagination. It might be helpful to encourage him to imagine he has the power to send the troll away.

There's no such thing as a mental health A&E, there are Crisis Teams (which anyone can Google the number for if they need it) but this is not a crisis situation.

Original poster
sunshine99789 · 01/11/2018 21:08

We have given him lots of ways to get rid of the troll (magic potions, fairy dust,sunlight to turn it to stone,thors hammer etc) he says nothing works and he just gets more distressed :(

They arent real people, the way he described them sounds like a cartoon character. I dont think my son gets hurt but he says the 2 people he is protecting from the troll get hurt.

He said he cant hear the troll speak but can see his mouth moving like it is miming.

OP posts:
edwardcullensotherwoman · 01/11/2018 21:10

Does he ever get dizzy spells? As a child (around 4) I was diagnosed with benign vertigo. I sometimes had dizzy spells/lost my balance and at night I had vivid hallucinations - I still remember some of them now. It could just be as others have said an over active imagination , but if he's frightened it would be best to see a gp. Hope it gets better soon OP, I can totally sympathise with him

eddiedarling · 01/11/2018 22:51

ear infections can cause really bad hallucinations in kids.

childhood psychosis usually develops around 7-13, but usually is preceded by a premorbid phase that is marked - cognitive deficits the most obvious. its not something that a child would develop out of the blue - i wouldn't worry.

take to Gp for anxious reaction though

Amdoingit · 01/11/2018 23:06

Everyone will say they’re not real, but how much does everyone love a woo story. Start genuinely looking into Christianity. Not organised religion....stay as far away from that as possible. Jesus taught on such things. My children experienced similar things & even started manifesting visible injuries. It isn’t a hallucination. Bless you.

SpitefulMidLifeAnimal · 01/11/2018 23:58

As nice as Jesus is, I can't help but think this one needs a chat with the GP.

C8H10N4O2 · 02/11/2018 05:28

Start genuinely looking into Christianity

Does Jesus have a lot to say about trolls then? I must have missed that bit. Lends a whole new meaning to troll hunting GrinGrin

OP: if DC is distressed by this and it isn't going away then yes, GP or other HCP would seem sensible.

Jellycatspyjamas · 02/11/2018 05:42

It might also be worth looking at what he’s watching on tv, which books he’s reading, what he’s doing on-line. He may not be into imaginative play but something has sparked that particular scenario - monitoring his viewing etc will help you get an idea of where from and what might help (eg is there a magical way that trolls were overcome in x movie).

I would also have a chat with the GP, it’s may be worth tracking back to when it started. Did anything change for him around that time, might anything have been causing him stress, wouid he usually tell you if something was bothering him?

What is his emotional literacy like? Does he have words for feelings, can he make the link between situations and emotions, is he able to talk about how he feels and does he have established coping strategies (eg my DD knows if she’s feeling angry she needs to do something physical to feel better). I’d be working on emotions with him eg how does he feel watching the troll, what’s happening in his body, are there other times he feels like that (listen carefully to what he says here), what helps that feeling go away.

Children do use imaginary friends and imaginary situations to help them make sense of the world, unless you’re seeing other stuff in him I wouldn’t worry too much but wouid be paying attention to things that might be causing him stress or anxiety.

corythatwas · 02/11/2018 06:50

Another possibility is urinary infection. Doesn't always show up as a temperature, can cause vivid hallucinations.

I'd take him to the GP asap for a general check-up.

PositiveVibez · 02/11/2018 06:57

Start genuinely looking into Christianity

Jesus taught on such things

Genuinely scratching my head at that advice.

Sounds scary OP. Your poor soon. As pp have said, get him to the GP.

angieloumc · 02/11/2018 07:02

Amdoingit I'm a practicing catholic but what a strange thing to say 'look into Christianity'!
OP, my DD had hallucinations or 'scary imaginations' as she called them about ten years ago when she had a very severe uti so so take your son to the GP.

Original poster
sunshine99789 · 02/11/2018 07:02

Thank you all for your replies, I was worried I was stressing over nothing.
I have booked a GP appointment for later on today.

OP posts:
crispysausagerolls · 02/11/2018 18:52

What did theGP say?

Original poster
sunshine99789 · 02/11/2018 19:03

Sorry, meant to post an update.
Waste of time, didnt check him over,check his temp or anything. Looked at me like I was crackers.
We explained everything and GP was at a loss, said he would have to ask a specialist and if he gets worse in the meantime to go back.

I did also ask God but he didnt answer :/

OP posts:
Booboostwo · 02/11/2018 21:08

Hmm pretty unimaginative response by the GP. Hope he gets back to you ASAP with some helpful suggestions.

SofiaAmes · 02/11/2018 21:12

The NICE Guidelines say the following: Given the rarity of very early onset psychosis and schizophrenia it is important that organic illness is excluded. Physical healthcare and baseline investigations Psychosis and schizophrenia in children and young people should include detailed physical examination and blood tests. The link to the NICE Guidelines
for psychosis and schizophrenia in children are here.

daughterofanarchy · 02/11/2018 22:18

I hope your son is okay soon OP. I don’t have much to add by way of advice but from one Parent to another, I wish you and your son the best.

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