Looking for some advice please if anyone has been through similar.
I don’t know if I’m making more of this than I need to but I am worried about my DS (13).
When he was about 10 he had a really difficult spell, prompted by a combination of a supply teacher covering his class teacher’s long term absence (for some reason she and my DS got off on the wrong foot) and at the same time my DH going away on a military exercise.
He was really acting up at school and home (nothing major, but out of character).
When he got told off he was scratching himself (digging his fingernails into his arms, legs, hard enough to draw blood on a couple of occasions).
His school were fantastic, the supply teacher went away, they put some 1-1 sessions in place with him and one of the TAs who had specialist MH training and it all settled down again.
Nothing similar until the last couple of weeks.
He’s definitely hormonal, and twice now in 2 weeks he has got so angry (once at himself, once at his brother).
When he was angry with himself he scratched the back of his own hands.
When he was angry with his brother he punched a metal chair in his room and bent it, hurting his knuckles at the same time.
I know teenage rage and big emotions are normal, but I’m worried about the self-harm aspect and don’t want it to escalate.
My DH has suggested we buy him punch bag as a healthy way to get the rage out.
Is that a good idea?
I’d also like him to talk to someone.
He’s at a different school now, I’m not 100% sure I want to involve school and think we’d rather pay for private counselling.
Thanks in advance for any insight you can offer.