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Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Behaviour/development

My son is hearing voices

141 replies

OakLuz · 12/01/2014 23:28

Over the past 2 weeks my 8 year old son has been hearing voices and sounds in his "ears and head" he says the person who is speaking to him is a man and his name is Joseph, he cries none stop and says that he is scared. I have done my research on schizophrenia and it is very unlikely he has that, I have suggested we take a trip to the doctors but he doesn't want to go I just don't know what to do next, his behaviour is deteorating day by day, he no longer wants to eat because he thinks there is poison in the food etc. I will be grateful for any advice

Luz

OP posts:

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robindeer · 14/01/2014 22:48

Trust me- it is astounding how the mind can be affected by illness. From everything you've said, it doesn't sound like your boy is mentally ill- it sounds like an infection impacting on a young mind. Please OP- take him to hospital. They will never, ever turn away a poorly wee man. You are not wasting anyone's time. Please go to hospital, or call an ambulance. He needs medical attention now.

Onesiegoddess · 14/01/2014 22:55

ring the out if hours GP now and run things by him.

Selks · 14/01/2014 22:55

With respect I think we should stop speculating on what may or may not be wrong with him. It's clear he is seriously unwell and he should be seen urgently. Let's just focus on supporting the OP to do that.

LEMmingaround · 14/01/2014 22:59

PLEASE take your son to A&E, i had to read through the thread because i was when i saw folk telling you to get him to hospital. But having read your updates I am in total agreement and am seriously worried for him. I am quite frankly a little surprised you haven't got him to a doctor before this - he has been shivering all day because he has a fever. He is very very poorly OP - this is serious. At least phone 111 and get a phone assesment. If this were my child it would be 999

RockinHippy · 14/01/2014 23:06

in this link to check the NHS Direct is 111 or still the old 0845 in your area or 999

No medic will be upset with you for calling even an ambulance with what you describe you DS urgently needs help!!!

RockinHippy · 14/01/2014 23:08

Let us know how you both get on, hoping you are BOTH okay

charitymum · 14/01/2014 23:33

Is your son rousable? Can you actually wake him?

If not. Or if he is confused or unable to talk please call 999.

If you don't want to call ambulance please go to a and e.

Where are you?

duchesse · 14/01/2014 23:43

Kidney problems can also cause symptoms that mimic mental illness. We had an example of this in the family. Your child needs medical attention- please take him.

ChrisMooseMickey · 14/01/2014 23:43

Go to A&E!!!!!

lougle · 14/01/2014 23:57

I hope you are getting medical attention now. It does sound like he's very ill, whatever the cause.

IHaveSeenMyHat · 15/01/2014 00:00

I hope you decided to take him OP.

I'm worried about you - whoever said you sound flat and depressed, I agree with that. You also seem too willing to let your son refuse a GP appointment and refuse medicine, then sit shivering with fever all day. Not good.

GarlicReturns · 15/01/2014 00:11

Crikey, the poor little boy! I hope you have taken him to hospital, OakLuz, and he's being treated for whatever's making him so ill.

Your husband is behaving like an arse. He's not been behaving like a good parent, that's for sure. Does he disapprove of your worrying about the children, perhaps?

"DS was shivering in the house today whilst the heating was on high I didn't know whether to ask him if he was cold"

You can't have realised how incredibly upsetting this was to read. Why on earth would a mother not ask her shivering child if he was cold? :(

GeordieJellybean · 15/01/2014 00:44

Just read through the thread and really hoping your DS (and you!) are okay and getting some medical attention. Best wishes to you both.

Mellowandfruitful · 15/01/2014 00:50

Yes, really hope you can get somewhere with this. Please get your son seen as soon as you can by medical professionals. You are the only one who can make this decision (since your husband's being an arse) your DS isn't old enough to decide for himself and you are his mother and you know something is wrong here.

You definitely need support yourself too, but I would say get your DS to a doctor now as a matter of urgency, and then maybe folks here can give advice about good ways to access support IRL. If your son is referred into CAHMS I would think they can suggest forms of support for you. All the best to you and your boy.

lolalotta · 15/01/2014 06:52

How is your son now OP?

BagOfBats · 15/01/2014 06:58

Hope you've had some answers by now OP as to what's been going on and fingers crossed your DS is starting to feel a little better

Northumberlandlass · 15/01/2014 07:09

How's he doing?
Been thinking abt him OakLuz

Bunbaker · 15/01/2014 07:20

How is he today? I just want to reiterate that he needs medical attention asap. He doesn't get to decide whether he needs to see a doctor as he is only 8. It is your responsibility as a parent to ensure he receives the appropriate medical attention.

He sounds physically unwell right now so you absolutely must get him to a doctor.

RockinHippy · 15/01/2014 07:31

I hope you are both doing okay & have medical help for him by now Oak

you need to find strength for your DSs sake, but you CAN do that, you really can, I worry for you both, but really hope you've found that strength by now & he has some medical care.

Come back & let us know how you got on, a lot of people are worrying about you both

Feelingscrewedup · 15/01/2014 08:07

Hi Oakluz, I hope you and your son are okay, his symptoms sound scary for both of you. I have also been in a situation where people were telling me to take my dc to hospital (entirely different reason), it really panicked me, and when we got there they were okay actually, but it is better to have the reassurance.

Fairylea · 15/01/2014 08:22

I have kidney issues and I would put bets on your ds having a urine infection. These can cause hallucinations especially in the very old and very young. Please take him to a and E immediately.

SireeDubs · 15/01/2014 08:33

Thinking about you OP. really hope that you've either called for help overnight, or if not, I hope you're waiting for a house call. Forget everything else and concentrate on your little man. If necessary, the other youngster may have to stay off school if your DH can't help.

PLEASE let us know that you've got medical help. I can't tell you how much better it will be for you all just to have professionals taking charge of what appears to be an unmanageable situation.

PLEASE.

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MasterOfTheYoniverse · 15/01/2014 08:57

Hope he is OK today.
I also think its best to see your GP to exclude any physical pb. Don't be shy and give the GP all the suggestions you have in mind, there is no symptom too "strange" when making an exclusion diagnosis.

It honestly does sound like depression.
From my experience with my son at the same age what I can say is that unlike adults, its not vaguely a general "malaise". There is usually an identifiable root cause.
From what you say, there clearly is a problem at home, lots of things unsaid and that will involve all of you willing to consider a bout of family therapy or at least a reality check of what you are projecting as a couple, what your DH is expressing (or not) as a father.
I firmly believe no child can be treated without this holistic approach. Don't be put off if you feel under scrutiny because you will be. So better lay it out in the open sooner rather than later.

The good news is that once the root cause starts to unravel and the child feels supported and that there is honesty all round, the anxiety levels VERY quickly go down.
CBT, biofeedback etc work very well and quickly with children. There is no delving into what's fundamentally "wrong" with HIM. Its all about showing the child that there is an objective SITUATION that produces negative emotions and then sort of "re-wire" from there IYKWIM?

Of course there a question of personality type. Mine is an absolute quiet type. Self sufficient, bookish, gets sensory overload.
He is also an absolute star on the field with his team. If you know only side of him you would never guess the other one. The constant in his personnalilty is his resilience and his ability to find the space he needs to regroup.
Its ok to be an introvert. Its the rest of the world that doesn't seem to agree. Sod them!

As an adult, I would feel really awful being pigeonholed as the weirdo as he seems to be. In his own family.Even if its affectionate, its very wrong. How could he possibly feel safe coming home with a grievance if he is de facto shut out?
So sorry to rub it in but something's got to change at home to get through to the other side of this.

Get your husband to read this book.
He will probably learn a thing or two to help boost your son's self esteem and maybe even acknowledge some truths about himself?

Keep talking, I know its a very lonely place to be especially if you get locked into the school refusal spiral.

OakLuz · 15/01/2014 09:41

I'd like to thank everyone for their concern, I didn't know that people I have never met could be so caring, I took him to a&e after my last message last night, he does have a kidney infection which he has been given a course of antibiotics for, and also he was dehydrated they put him on a drip. I feel so stupid for not recognizing this sooner. I did mention that he has been hearing voices and they told me to book an appointment with his GP ASAP. GarlicReturns the reason I didn't ask him he if was cold because he has shivered in the past whilst crying

OP posts:

Fairylea · 15/01/2014 09:46

Aw your poor ds :(

I hope he is on the mend soon.

If it turns out to be recurring as kidney infections often are they can put him on long term antibiotics at a low dose to keep them at bay. I have been on them for 20 years now (I am 33) and they have worked wonders for me.

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