14yo seeing bugs - Do I take him to A&E?

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Bit worried and looking for advice really. DS14 has ADHD and anxiety, but I’ve suspected autism for a while too. He’s been really low recently, doesn’t seem himself at all, and I think he might be depressed on top of everything else.

He’s been struggling since last year with school refusal, barely managing to go in at all, and things have just got worse. We’re still waiting on CAMHS — been on the list for months and feels like we’re getting nowhere.

Today he’s just been completely flat. Barely said a word all day, wouldn’t eat anything til mid afternoon, just pacing or lying on the sofa staring at the ceiling. Snapped at DP earlier for turning the telly on too loud which isn’t like him. Said he feels weird and can’t explain why. Looks totally worn out but still can’t settle or sleep.

Sleep’s been a nightmare – he’s only had 4hrs the last two nights. He napped for an hour or so yesterday but hasn’t really rested properly. He’s started saying he can see bugs in his room, swore something flew at him last night but there was nothing there when DP checked. He was really freaked out.

He’s exhausted, anxious, not himself at all. I’m not sure if this is sensory stuff or something else but it’s starting to scare me a bit. Would you take him to A&E? I don’t want to overreact but also don’t want to ignore it if something’s properly wrong.

That sounds really difficult for you all…I don’t know what nhs 24 is like where you are, but in Scotland when you call there’s an option for mental health issues, I don’t think sitting in potentially busy A&E would be the best thing for your son’s wellbeing just now.

I'd definitely do something. Start with 111

Yes, I think this is definitely worth making a call, NHS 24 have a whole separate option for mental health too. Hope you're all OK x

You could try an anti histamine that should make him drowsy. The bug thing could be sleep deprivation or something else. Either way, he needs medical attention and assessment.

I would get him assessed, call 111 they can direct you.

111 have a Mental Health option when you get to your region. Definitely try it

I manage a camhs service. please call 111

Oh Op. how frightening for you all

Your concern is totally understandable.

Worth exploring what NHS 111 can offer.

This weekend A&Es will be even busier than usual with all sorts of heat related conditions and misadventure...

Call 111. It could be hallucinations or it could be a problem with his eyes.
Does he go out? If so is there a chance he is using drugs?

one of mine is having hallucinations (bugs, insects, spiders, and also shadows and voices). Psychiatrist and Camhs say it's stress and anxiety related.

Are you under Camhs? Can you contact them on Monday. We have been to a&e multiple times for MH stuff and it's beyond useless..

For the hallucinations, DC has been told to try the grounding techniques. There are a few in this link. Could DS try them?

It's really scary but often, it's nothing more than anxiety and not ten start of a psychotic episode. Try to be reassuring.

https://www.healthline.com/health/grounding-techniques#physical-techniques

You need to ring your local CAMHS rapid intervention team. My DD has adhd and had a kind of breakdown a few years ago and they were great at getting her through it over 10 days until she was better able to cope.

It sounds like sleep deprivation along with anxiety. It happens to me when j am struggling I see spiders. I thi k you should bring him to be assessed to try and get further help.good luck

I see bugs when I'm dehydrated. I am also neurodivergent. I don't think it's that uncommon. I definitely don't need medical intervention when it happens.

Yes, I’d do something now, personally, having been in a similar situation with DC, I’d dial 999.
This could be the start of a psychotic episode - sleep deprivation is a real trigger.

I wouldn’t call 999 and probably wouldn’t go to A&E unless you think something is really really wrong and that he may have psychosis. I would look up the symptoms and see if they fit, but being flat, staring at the ceiling and seeming depressed don’t fit my experiences of psychosis (although different people act differently). Hallucinations are common in sleep deprivation and dehydration can make you see “stars”. Have you asked about the bugs - do they make a sound? What do they look like? I would definitely try to get in to see the GP or go private for his MH on Monday/next week though

Stress, anxiety, lack of food, lack of sleep, and the heat will do funny things to the brain.
Call 111

I agree with PP - it'd be a good idea to call NHS 24 and choose the mental health option. They can advise.

Bless him and you all,
sounds like autistic burn out ? / acute anxiety

seeing things is common in young people with high levels of anxiety / poor sleep -

the best advise here is call 111 - use mental health option,

Monday - call Cahms, say he is on wait list and things have deteriorated and ask for urgent appt

if your Cahms has the usual resource problems and cannot help, I would go private with psychiatry UK -
I had to do this, and although I ended up paying with my overdraft - no regrets

My ND son didn't sleep for about 48 hours once and he was seeing spiders and bugs on his bedroom walls and ceiling. He was put on to Sertraline soon after this.

I would start with 111 and take it from there. But get him to drink as well. If you have something sugary, like a full fat coke etc., that might help if he is dehydrated.

If he's had so little sleep the he could be hallucinating
It happened to me after my son was born, and must be frightening for a child. I'd take him to a&e for advice.

I would suggest an A+E dept is the last place an extremely anxious / agitated young lad with ?ASD needs

awful places, overwhelming / overstimulating places you will wait hours to be seen in, by an non mental health professional… bad idea

call NHS 111 press the mental health option and be directed to appropriate services

I had some thing similar with my Ds when he was about 10 .. He was screaming around the house . I called Gp .. we were put in a side room saw duty Gp . I think they decided it was anxiety attack . It never happened again but yes get him seen I would call 111 though get directed to the right service

There are a number of things this could be so he needs to see a doctor. What sprang to my mind because a friend’s child was affected (and saw bugs) is PANDAS. Has your son been ill recently?

Forgot the link:

https://childmind.org/guide/parents-guide-to-pans-and-pandas/#block_63f776096eb92

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