Ds 11yrs having panic attacks Aspergers?

[flakemum]

Advice from anyone who knows about Aspergers strategies. Ds not got diagnosis tried But just told he is difficult and given parenting advice! Educational psyc did say he felt he has many Aspergers traits and recommended a book to help us. After starting secondary school symptoms have got worse and he is very anxious about going to school re.using Toilets and germs especially. He is crying and having panic attacks which have got worse since sept. school were helpful and gave him permission to leave classroom if he needs toilet and he is allowed to use the private single toilet. I have tried teaching him to breathe and distracting him but nothing is helping and I am very worried about him. I have booked app with GP to discuss private psyc. App. Help or advice pls.

This sounds like my son.

He has high functioning autism and was diagnosed, aged 4yrs. He's got a good vocabulary, is bright (not a genius!) and very Aspie. He's 11yrs now. He goes to secondary this Sept. at age 10, he was additionally diagnosed with OCD after school referred him to CAMHS. Germs, anxiety, checking, repetitive phrases are all part of his new condition. School were fantastic BUT THEN, HE DID HAVE A DIAGNOSIS, A STATEMENT AND FUNDING FOR HELP AT SCHOOL.

I feel for you, I really do. These school years fly by and whilst everyone's buggering about misdiagnosing and telling you to take parenting classes, your child's education is passing him by.

Yes, go see your GP. Ask about CAMHS. Ask school SENCO for advice. Your son is very distressed and whatever the reason, it needs sorting out. Incidentally, my son's safety spot was the toilet......he spent so much time in there that we thought he may have some renal problem (which does run in our family). He didn't, he was just very very stressed.

My heart goes out to you. And to him.

Yes, go to the GP and insist on a referral to CAHMS. tell them you have been told he has Aspergers traits.

I don't know what the solution is but CAMHS will have seen children before with these types of problems and will have some suggestions for you.

PipinJo - are you talking about streptococcus?

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090811143538.htm

"the hypothesis that some neuropsychiatric syndromes may be triggered by direct action of (Strep throat bacteria)-associated antibodies on the brain"

My DS is also 11 and started secondary school in september, he has a diagnosis of high functioning asd and suffers very badly with anxiety and stress.
I went to appeal to get him into the school of his choice that has a fantastic pastorial care system but we still have issues that will never go away.

Have you spoken to the school SENCO? My DS has now got a stress toy as we found he was going through rubbers and pencils like no ones business as he was eating them to help relieve his anxiety. He has a adult mentor and is allowed to go to her office whenever he feels he needs support, most of time he just goes to see her now in mornings just to feel reasurred she is there if he needs her, he looks upon her as his mum at school which makes me feel a whole lot better about sending him off everyday , he also has other quiet areas he can use and a card system to present to teachers if he feels its all too much in lessons.

His school SENCO sat down with him and discussed what areas of school were making him stressed and they have put strategies into place in his school action plan so all teachers are aware of his needs and they can support him where needed most. He is now receiving additional support via a support group tailored for children who are finding it difficult adjusting to school for what ever reasons again school have implemented this and is in school time.

Apart from getting a diagnosis we have had no other support from cahms, we were getting cbt at an anxiety clinic until that was stopped when he got his diagnosis as they dont treat children with asd

Sending hugs as I know what it feels like, keep pushing!

Huh? joencaitlinsmum my son has asd and has CBT at CAMHS. No one has ever said his autism meant he couldn't have it! He has struggled with some of the concepts but OCD can respond well to CBT.

Dd3[9] who has ASD has panic attacks at school too, they are often related to her seperation anxiety. This was never recognised at her old school and because her anxiety/panic makes her vomit they just used to send her home.

Now she is at a much better more inclusive school, if she feels like she is going to panic she goes to the SEN room and the SENCO or who ever is up there does breathing exercises with her to help her to calm down.

They are very good with her and very patient once it took nearly an hour to calm her but they have said their aim is to keep her in school and not send her home for me to deal with.

She was also discharged from CAMHS as soon as she was Dx'ed so we are totally reliant on school at the moment for any support that she needs.

I agree that you should push for support and the school SENCO could be the best place to start.

Good luk .

MrsDolly

My DS had CBT through an anxiety clinic not CAHMS and it was the clinic who refused to treat him after his dx. CAHMS said they could not offer an alternative!

Glad it has helped your child :)