6 year old ds obsessive running back and forth

[mookymim]

Hi I've never posted on here before I'm concerned about my 6 year old ds he's always been a very active little boy and hasn't particularly been a great sleeper, he finds it hard to get to sleep and wakes very early, typically 6am. For the past 6 months he has began noticeably running back and forth in the house he says he's 'getting his energy' or 'getting rid of his energy'. It is unnerving to watch as he appears to be deliberately exhausting himself. I've tried to get him to stop but he gets distressed, I end up distracting him which often works.
Today I asked who he played with during break at school he replied that he doesn't play with anyone because he 'has to run' when I asked why he didn't play with his friend George he said ' well he asks to play with me but I say I can't because I have to run' then he says 'I wish I didn't have to run' I said he didn't have to run and that he should play with his friends instead but he just replied that he can only think whilst running. It breaks my heart to think that he almost feels 'enslaved' by this need to run. His behaviour seems fine in other areas, his first school report said he lacked concentration and was emotionally under target, also that he didn't make friendships easily. All other areas he is bang on target.
I would welcome any support or advice. Thank you

:) thanks 4 the update.

Thank you for the update. My toddler has done this since he turned 2 (he’s now 2.5) but it’s becoming increasingly more frequent. He does it if there’s a fence for example, or along an island in a kitchen or just from one end of the room to the other. He has some other red flags for autism but also a happy, affectionate little boy who loves his baby sister. Nursery say he does it loads which prevents him from interacting with the other children. My worry is if he continues to do it at school and other kids laugh at him :(

Wow, I was hoping to find some type of answer or at least someone who is going through a similar situation to what my son is doing and this sounds almost identical! I would love to hear an update. Has your son ever demonstrated any signs of emotional anxiety by any chance? It's tricky because I really don't believe my son is on the spectrum (I've been an elementary school teacher for 16 years with a masters in special education) but I know something is up, kind of always have, but never met anyone who has had such similar experiences. Thank you for posting!

He sounds like the spitting image of my childhood self.

Interval training is the best way to tire him out and calm him down. Another option is to let him go out for a run but time the run so that he runs flat out otherwise he’ll just run at a comfortable pace and finish the run even more hyped-up.

My son (6 years old) started doing this in the last two months. He also laughs especially at bedtime! Can whisper to himselfband laugh for hours. But my son doesn't tell me what's going on! He becomes upset if I asked him and would say to me " go away"! He stares to the space and not paying attention at school, also whispers and talks to himself at school.

My son on the waiting list for adhd assessment because he was impulsive at school and pushes other children when playing with them. It's going to take ages before he will be seen! But I'm very concerned that it's more than adhd!

He is having bad tantrums in the morning. He tries to control himself but sometimes he hits his younger brother. He loses his temper easily. I can see that he lost some weight and became stick thin :( the school put him in one to one support and not allowing him to work with his peer since the start of this year :(

Very curious to know what happened because my son has been doing this since he was about 2 and he’s now five.. he puts ont transformers and runs back and forth making the sound effects while the episodes play.

At first we left it.

Then I would ask what he is doing and he would say nothing or seem embarrassed. This was when he wasn’t talking as much.

Now that’s he talking much more he communicated that this is HIS time . He called his no talking time so I’m guessing like mentioned above it helps him think. I’ve tried to join him and say can I play? And he says no it’s his time.

Last week he did says he’s playing transformers tho so it seems to change.

Teachers also told me to give him time because he was alone w me during the lockdown and even tho I took him to the park everyday when it was ok to, he didn’t get to attend preschool so im guessing he also is just very independent. His teacher said he’s made great relationships in school and his talking is coming along very quickly. Just sometimes worry that it’s so so repetitive.

@CandyB2922 it's been two months, it's getting worse! He is not communicating with anyone apart from himself!!! He holds full long conversations with himself while fidgeting, walking, running, jumping! Mornings, noons and nights! At home, car, park, restaurants, shopping, school ... Everywhere! Non stop! Not interested in playing games with his brother, friends or us or even buying his favourite toys! He lost weight and became stick thin but he still eating very well! His favourite place is home with us but in his own mind.

The worst bit is the nights! He can have sleepless nights because he cannot shut this self-talk! Laughing like crazy even while eating! Can repeat sounds, words or even full sentences for hours! Plus he is having some tics.

This habit became a disability! When he go to the loo once he finishes he stays in the toilet walking around and talking to himself undressed! Things are getting soooo long to be done! He is chewing everything, electric wires! Toys, pens clothes!

With all this talk, yet he is mute with us! Doesn't like to talk yet he respond to us if we asked him to do something.

Pediatrician did blood test for him to exclude encephalitis, results are normal as mentioned by the GP.

He hasn't yet been seen by the psychiatrist and waiting for scan!

It's very awkward health system here! I am on anti depressants because of my son, seeing him like this and doesn't know what to do!!!! We are going outside alot, to friends houses just trying to get him engaged, but he is not!

Can anyone recommend any supplements ?