My son is driving me insane.

[sporkandnoodles]

A bit of background. He's 17 and autistic.

He currently has no focus in life, dropped out of college due to learning difficulties not being met and can't get a job......we have applied for lots but he never gets past the interview as they can see he will need more help than others to get to grips with the job. I truly believe if someone gave him a chance he'd be fine in retail etc and would be an asset to a business, but no one can see past the autism.
He's due to start a new course in a couple of weeks, which will hopefully help him get a job and also give him some purpose and focus in his daily life.
He can become quite obsessive with things, the latest being that he has chest pain. He talks about NOTHING other than the chest pain. We've been to the GP 3times regarding it. He's had an ecg and they've prescribed him medication. They believe it's a mix of costochondritis and health anxiety. He won't take the propranolol for the anxiety because it was making his hair fall out so we are going to have to go back again and see if they can prescribe something different.

I genuinely feel like I'm going to explode if I have to have the same conversation with him again about his symptoms. I have been so understanding and sympathetic. We've made plans to help with his routine. He struggles especially at night so I've been staying up with him to alleviate his anxiety there, then i get up at the crack of dawn to go to work so im exhausted. I've been going on walks with him. Cooking extra healthy food. Went through the referral with him for our local mental health service. Have shown him breathing exercises and other stress reducing techniques. Explained the benefits of distracting himself.
He's absolutely convinced he's having a heart attack or that there's something serious wrong, despite numerous drs telling him his heart is fine.
He has an assessment appointment with our local mental health service in 10 days but I think there's a good chance it will be months before he gets actual treatment.

I'm just at my witts end. I know this might sound heartless and like I don't care but it's been an exhausting 6 weeks. I have really tried so hard not to snap at him or get angry because I know he can't help it but I feel constantly stressed by having the same conversation 20 times a day. I don't know what else I can do to help him.

I just need to rant amd get this off my chest as it's really beginning to effect my own mental health.

I'm with you. Ds10 is diagnosed ASD and anxiety has begun this year. Always been a nervous child but this year he had a bit of a traumatic thing happen and was diagnosed with coeliacs disease and ever since he's developed health anxiety and separation anxiety with me. I love him more than life itself but it is sooo draining supporting someone to this level. GP referred to cahms and he has an initial assessment in December. Even school is being affected, attendance is low and when he is there it's a reduced timetable so I'm not getting much space/break from him.

I read a parents CBT for children with anxiety and we've been doing thought sheets, where they write down the intrusive/anxious thought, then put an alternative and write the evidence and facts of the situation. We've been doing that for a week or so after numerous other things have not worked such as breathing techniques, talking it out, meditation.

I have no advice unless you want to try the CBT thought sheets, you can Google it and get free print off ones but just wanted to say I understand how it feels and then how guilty you feel for feeling that way!