Just autism or something else?

[MrPringle]

My autistic child has always been hard work but she’s getting significantly harder as she gets older, shes just been diagnosed with severe ADHD. Shes got so much harder with age (everyone told me it would get easier) one thing im having a lot of trouble with is flies, every summer she is a complete nightmare over flies, I can’t have my windows or doors open because of it despite how hot it’s been, she doesn’t like anyone using the toilet as she believes flies come from there even though weve told her they don’t, if a fly does get in the house she is hysterical like I mean screaming shouting and throwing things, I’ve had the police called on me over it. The other night she was up all night till 5 am claiming there was flies in the house (there wasnt) she was screaming the place down i was so worried the police would be called, well tonight it’s the same thing, shes refusing to sleep, shes up screaming the place down ive had to sit downstairs with her so hopefully the neighbours dont hear and call the police. Shes hysterical, there are no flies, she claims there is noise and buzzing and says she sees them but there are none there. Me and my other kids can’t sleep. Shes demanding to go to her fathers house that hasn’t seen her in 3 years as apparently there are no flies there despite the fact everyone gets the odd fly, like I said there is none in my house. She won’t sleep as is repeatedly attempting to run up the stairs so has to be stopped, im drained!! Surely this isn’t just autism? Does this sound like a mental illness? (Ive bought fly spray, fly zappers, nets on windows) nothing works. Weve been to the shops today and seen loads of flies in them but she doesn’t react at all?

Is she on adhd meds?

Your child needs help. Ask GP or the specialists working with her ADHD/autism.

She has only just been diagnosed, waiting list is 6-12 months I’ve been told we have to join the list and it won’t be quick

This sounds like a severe phobia and possible hallucinations as you say she is hearing and seeing flies that are not there.

I would ask for urgent mental health care for her.

Also weve been told we have to wait for the report before she can be put on the list. I’ve been to the drs about her anxiety but they wouldn’t help or prescribe medication as they said they don’t like to give anxiety medication to under 16s but I will try again

Can it be a phobia if we have been to multiple shops and there was flies in all of them but she doesn’t care or react, even outside she doesn’t react at all.

I think asd kids get very anxious. And rigid thoughts. So 1 fly ever and mow worried about it . It maybe like ocd.

probably been told or seen re flies and germs etc.
mine has ocd with likely audhd and one year i had to squash all the moths before bed.

A regular GP can’t do much, she’d need to see a child psychiatrist.

Can GP refer? I found they just fobbed us off, left feeling very deflated.

Yes it can in the sense of they’re invading her safe space and the thought of one crawling on or in you when you’re sleeping.

My autistic DC has arachnophobia and she’s ok with spiders outside the home so long as enough distance is kept. She is ok in a zoo as they’re caged behind glass. It is in when they are wandering around the home that freaks her out and especially she needs her bedroom to be bug free.

But mine has never seen ones that aren’t there or screamed all night long, unable to sleep.

Yes they can. Next time she has a screaming episode, no matter the time of day or night, call 111 and press button for mental health crisis. Speak to whoever even if they call you back hours later.

It will be logged and sent to the GP that these episodes are happening with recommendation for CAMHS.

Worst case, try and scrape together funds for a private consultation.

In mean time is there anything you can do to create a fly free zone within her bedroom? Like add extra layers of anti-fly protections? Magnetic screen in her doorway? Screens on the windows? Make sure the lids on the toilets are always down. See if you can find source of buzzing, I know you said it’s not there, but rule out things like she’s hearing bees in a tree by her room or god forbid in the attic above her room.

Even buying some natural, nontoxic insect repellant like we used incognito sprays when we went camping. Apply at bedtime to her pjs, arms, legs.
You can say it makes her invisible to flies and if they land on her by accident, they will quickly leave.

Incognito even make a shower gel and soap that’s worth a shot for bath time. Holland and Barrett usually have it.

Tried everything, flies sprays, nets on windows, fly zappers doesn't change things and she keeps spraying the spray over and over again we can barely breathe because of it.
will try the nontoxic one

Yeah, avoid the sprays that kill flies. Work on having insect repellent on her, hopefully she will feel safer. The incognito products worked really well for us was with this
https://www.lessmosquito.com/products/hair-body-wash-200ml

then you just spray your clothes, arms, legs, with this
https://www.lessmosquito.com/products/award-winning-anti-mosquito-spray-repellent-100ml?variant=40089062670423

It repels flies as well as mosquitos.

A flynet canopy over her bed might give her a sense of security, something like this?

Omg thank you so much!! I have never thought of this, this is amazing! Honestly cant thank you enough really hoping this works! I might finally be able to get some sleep now!