Posting for traffic, I've got no where to go 😞
My son is 17, he used to be a happy, sociabl little boy before adolescent. Now he is constantly smiles at his own thoughts, it happens when his mind is not engaged with doing something like talking to people or playing games. It's like he is in a different world...
This becomes very problematic, he had a part time job working in a retail shop. Whenever he is not engaged, he starts to walk up and down and smiles at his own thoughts, he is like this at home everyday, otherwise he is a normal 17 years old. We are not able to change him because he is not aware of it when this happens... Unsurprisingly, the shop owner decided to 'let him go' shortly after, we were all extremely devastated as he really enjoyed it. I can't blame the shopkeeper neither because he does look crazy when it happens.
I really wanting to help him and CAMHS dismissed him. He had a few private psychologist sessions but they are totally useless to him, I guess because he is quite unusual...
I never seen anyone like him, not even on TV or internet search. He looks completely normal and able to socialising with people and strangers, but when his mind is not engaged, he walks into different world involuntary, he enjoys humours and giggles, I guess that is his fantasy world.
I don't really know what I am asking for.. I guess to see if anyone know anybody like my son?
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Child mental health
17 years old constantly smiles at his own thoughts
take10yearsofmylife · 03/03/2024 18:28
Midnlghtrain · 03/03/2024 18:31
I daydream when not engaged in active tasks sometimes - I also smile at things I think? Sometimes even laugh if I'm thinking something funny! I'm totally fine and a normal functioning adult.
I'm not sure this alone needs help? It's quite common to daydream?
LadeOde · 03/03/2024 18:44
Why are posters being so dismissive? surely if it was normal smiling to yourself that most of us do he wont be 'let go' from his job and @OP won't be posting for help.
@OP When you say, 'smiling at his thoughts' can you elaborate a bit more? what does he say is going on in his head when he actually smiles? does he suddenly stop mid attending to customers and start pacing up and down smiling? how exactly does it present?
When did this behaviour start? or has he always been like this?
motherofdilemmas · 03/03/2024 19:24
I guess because it’s not clear from OPs posts that this IS a problem. It’s not clear if he was dismissed for this reason from the post. MH professionals were not concerned and dismissed him. OP can’t find anything about this online, maybe because it’s actually quite normal and not a MH thing at all.
I think OP needs to give more detail about it being a definite problem.
LadeOde · 03/03/2024 18:44
Why are posters being so dismissive? surely if it was normal smiling to yourself that most of us do he wont be 'let go' from his job and @OP won't be posting for help.
@OP When you say, 'smiling at his thoughts' can you elaborate a bit more? what does he say is going on in his head when he actually smiles? does he suddenly stop mid attending to customers and start pacing up and down smiling? how exactly does it present?
When did this behaviour start? or has he always been like this?
Threeboysnohair · 03/03/2024 18:41
He sounds lovely. Please don't try to change this innocent trait in him.
I often find my mind wandering and smile/laugh at really inappropriate times during work meetings. I just say to people, I'm really sorry, it's just me being me!
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CaramelMac · 03/03/2024 20:18
I assume you mean he’s grinning and laughing to himself rather than just a smile, as if something is happening but no one around him can see/hear it. This doesn’t sound normal and I’d be concerned too.
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