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12 year old possibly copying my fainting

5 replies

BeyondBujos · 01/02/2022 16:03

I hate to assume, I know what that feels like from the other side and it's not nice, but I am genuinely worried that my DS (nearly 12) is pretending to faint.

I've posted this across a few areas to get various responses - as each could come at it from different angles.

For relevance, I have a tendency to faint, history of migraines since I was about 11, and I am autistic. We do not know for sure if he is, as he is homeschooled atm, but he is under the young carers for our area. He has a lot of traits like mine, so I feel i should mention it just in case.

Recently he has started to have issues emotionally - anxiety, anger and depression. His young carers support worker is aware and making various mh referrals.

He has also had headaches and dizziness on and off constantly for about four months. His vision has been checked and is fine. Drs have referred him over for bloods and he has had an ecg (normal).

In the last few weeks he has claimed he has fainted while at his dads, then once here. The issue is that a) he has not once fainted in front of anyone b) he has not injured or even bumped anything and c) no one has heard him hit the floor as he goes down. As I said, I faint frequently, and I'm always in the wars from it.

When he fainted here (if he did) we took him to A&E, all is fine as far as they can see.

So, I am obviously very wary of accusing him of faking, as that is no less concerning than if he is fainting!

Does anyone have any experience of a child faking medical issues, especially in the context of them copying their disabled parent?

OP posts:
inheritancetrack · 01/02/2022 17:00

I think you need to get physical causes ruled out first, like him having migraine, heart issues etc. His emotional issues I am sure are made worse by teenage hormones kicking in. Its also not unusual for teenagers who are tall and lanky to faint. I think its to do with being hormonal and tall and skinny, in case this is the case with him?

BeyondBujos · 01/02/2022 17:43

Yep, lanky streak of piss he is 😄

Built like a racing snake!

OP posts:
inheritancetrack · 04/02/2022 10:31

@BeyondBujos

Yep, lanky streak of piss he is 😄

Built like a racing snake!

😂😂😂

Lovebugs24 · 17/02/2022 02:15

Hi, I have 2 autistic teens, one I have noticed over the years to have seemingly gone through fads of copying some of my ailments, it was nearly as tho she was using her knowledge/experience of seeing my pains etc and then using them as reasons why she couldn't do things. Also I broke my foot and ankle about 6 years ago and to this day if she sprains her wrist or trips over she completely gets fixated something is broken to the point that only an x Ray or medical evaluation calms her down. She is 16 now. I don't think she always fabricates these things but I believe her autism/learning difficulties plays a part. I'd get all the medical tests done firstly. I would also consider that if your Son is likely to be ASD he may be having sensory issues and kind of classing them/wording them as fainting

3luckystars · 17/02/2022 02:49

Well I often faint but rarely in front of anyone! I have low blood pressure.

If you have this issue, there is a good chance he does too as he is half you.

I would 100% support and believe him and keep communication open.

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