Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Help.

71 replies

BottomLineElectric · 24/11/2019 16:50

Hi,

I hope I have posted in the right category.

I have recently gone through a very bad break up with my partner of 12 years we have a 10 year old son together.

Our son has taken it very very badly, he was diagnosed with anxiety at the age of 6, he is still in therapy.

Over the past few weeks it has got a lot worst, last week he complained of hearing voices, and for the past few nights he has reported things happening to him during the night, he says it is a combination of voices and him seeing things and he is not sure whether he is asleep or not.

Today he has been very fidgety and shaky which he can’t stop and has said that he can hear voices “some inside of my head, and some outside”

I am very worried, because he keeps saying he doesn’t want to be here anymore. I will book an appointment with our GP first thing in the morning, but I am scared because it’s just me and him here, would it be an exaggeration for me to take him to A&E

Thanks.

OP posts:
mrsbyers · 24/11/2019 17:01

I would call NHS direct before going to a&e , it sounds like a mental health issue rather than a physical one so the GP route would be the one I choose

TheDarkPassenger · 24/11/2019 17:04

A&e is not just for physical issues!

I would seek advice from 111 but if you feel he is in danger of taking his own life then yes, a&e is where you go!

Original poster
BottomLineElectric · 24/11/2019 17:07

Hi,

Thanks for your advice, he is asleep now. If he complains again I will definitely take him to A&E. I am also worried that they will call social services as I’m a complete mess too.

OP posts:
DivGirl · 24/11/2019 17:10

Suddenly hearing voices and hallucinating is definitely something you should consider taking someone to A&E for. Especially a child.

Original poster
BottomLineElectric · 24/11/2019 17:10

As anyone here experienced this with their child? I am hoping that this is more of a stress issue and not mental health.

OP posts:
Clangus00 · 24/11/2019 17:12

They will phone social services BUT they’re NOT the “enemy” nor will they take your son away.
They WILL however offer you lots of support, for both of you.
You don’t need to fear the social services.

Ponoka7 · 24/11/2019 17:14

The involvement of SS may speed up your appointments and get other professionals to make sure, that they are doing everything as quickly as they can.

If you think there's a shortage of Foster carers for under 10s, that's nothing to Foster carers for children with additional needs etc. They won't come in looking to remove him.

Anxiety may have been misdiagnosed and he actually has a neurological/MH condition. Not misdiagnosed as such, most people who go on to have other diagnosises had early anxiety.

It would be appropriate to take him to A&E.

BlueGingerale · 24/11/2019 17:14

My DS did this at that age. And it was just stress not anything else.

It almost certainly isn’t schizophrenia. He’s too young.

It almost certainly is just stress. I’d be booking a therapist he could talk to not taking him to A&E if you can afford it.

DontTouchTheMoustache · 24/11/2019 17:15

Please please call 111, they can advise you much better than we can. You and your son need the right support and quickly.

pemberlyshades · 24/11/2019 17:20

You don't know if it's mental or physical health. Sudden onset of these symptoms can indicate a physical health problem. Phone 111 and get their advice. Has he told you what is being said? Keep a note of any and all new behaviours and what he's saying he's hearing and when x

Original poster
BottomLineElectric · 24/11/2019 17:55

Thanks again,

He hasn’t told me what they are saying, I am just very worried for him. School and his school friends have seen the change in his behaviour too.

I will have to take him to A&E regardless because he is not eating and he is bringing up the juice he is drinking.

His father is the person to blame for this.

OP posts:
beautifulxdisasters · 24/11/2019 18:30

@mrsbyers "it sounds like a mental health issue rather than a physical one so the GP route would be the one I choose" I hope to god that was clumsily phrased rather than you suggesting MH issues don't belong in A&E?!

I'd go to A&E with this OP, I've been in with suicidal thoughts and hallucinations as an adult and they were absolutely great

Original poster
BottomLineElectric · 24/11/2019 19:18

Thanks

He is asleep I will see how he is when he wakes up, I can’t believe this is happening Sad

OP posts:
BendyLikeBeckham · 24/11/2019 19:36

OP, some physical conditions can cause things like this, and he may need to see a neurologist rather than a psychiatrist. Get him to the GP for an urgent referral (which could take ages) or A&E if you think it is urgent (I would).

Don't blame anyone until you know what is what. And don't start any discussion with the words anxiety, divorce, etc. Just present the factual symptoms and let them investigate. IME medics will jump to stress/divorce/fobbing off without testing for physical causes because it is less hassle to make quick assumptions. I would want an MRI at the very least. Rule out physical causes before considering mental health in someone so young

Dutch1e · 24/11/2019 19:42

Please excuse the randomness of this comment, I fully appreciate how bizarre it will sound...

As well as the excellent advice given above please ask for him to be screened for parasites. I've known one child (only one, not exactly a scientific sample) who had similar symptoms and was diagnosed with a parasite. Not tapeworm but something else, I can't remember the name. His parents are rational people but were honestly beginning to wonder if the poor kid was possessed, it was so strange.

Hope your boy feels better soon.

Original poster
BottomLineElectric · 24/11/2019 19:47

Thank you, hopefully he will feel better when it wakes up.

I just keep praying that this is happening due to stress (I blame myself because no 10 year old should be stressed) he does suffer from anxiety but it’s something we have had under control, but this is something that would break me as a person if it does turn out to be something else.

I am grateful for all your replies.

OP posts:
Superduper13 · 24/11/2019 19:52

OP in a child your sons age , it’s very unlikely to be psychosis. Have you asked him what the ‘voices’ are saying ? If they are known to him? Inside or outside his head ? Has your son experienced anything traumatic (you mention it’s a bad breakup)? It’s possible it’s linked if he has.
However, I’d be concerned about him sleeping during the day if that’s not normal, not eating and being sick. If he can’t keep down fluids you should get him checked out ASAP. Unusual visual / auditory experiences can have a physical cause and it is important to rule this out .
I hope he’s ok and try not to panic as that will make him more worried.

Original poster
BottomLineElectric · 24/11/2019 20:50

He has said that he can’t make out what the voices are saying because they sound warped and some are inside and outside of his head.

Yes I believe this is due to me splitting with his father, due to his anxiety he has said that he doesn’t feel safe in our house anymore, so when he goes to school he is very anxious about coming back home, therefore he isn’t able to concentrate.

I am not worried about him sleeping during the day, although he is 10 years of age he does still nap on the weekends.

Thank you for your concern, I am going to
wake him up soon and give him something to eat.

OP posts:
Throckmorton · 24/11/2019 21:11

I think what you are thinking of Dutch1e is Lyme disease caught from tick bites. It can cause hallucinations

Original poster
BottomLineElectric · 24/11/2019 21:39

I am taking him to A&E

I’ll update when I can.

OP posts:
Mopmum35 · 24/11/2019 21:49

O gosh op I hope your poor ds is going to be ok.

CurtainTwitch · 24/11/2019 21:52

Good luck. In my experience a&e are fab with children

Happyspud · 24/11/2019 21:56

Hope he’s ok. Good luck OP.

TheMobileSiteMadeMeSignup · 24/11/2019 21:57

Hope A&E help. That must be so scary, for both of you.

Mimi91 · 24/11/2019 21:58

@BottomLineElectric sounds like it could be stress related sleep paralysis. I had this as a child and sometimes during stressful periods as an adult. You are half awake, half asleep, and can have hallucinations included hearing voices/sounds. Can be very frightening and confusing. Hope you get on okay at a&e.