Hallucinating DS with HFA?

[Tiggles]

DS2 (5) has always been a poor sleeper, but the last few weeks has been horrendous. He is terrified about going to bed, about being on his own in his bedroom (he shares a room with DS3, but they talk instead of going to sleep so DS3 goes to sleep in my bed and I carry him across later). In the middle of the night through to early morning he comes through in an absolute state of panic as he is seeing things on the walls. He isn't asleep when he sees them so he isn't dreaming but he is absolutely convinced that they are there. I know when I get tired I hallucinate cupboards falling on me, spiders falling from the ceiling etc between waking and sleeping and am convinced it is real so guess this is the same thing. But what can I do about it? I know in the cold light of day that what I saw the night before obviously was a dream. He is convinced the next day that they are real. He was trying to show me this morning where the scary face is on his wall and what it was doing. He is starting to shake with fear when I put him to bed, so can't sleep, so getting tireder, so hallucinations getting worse.

Any one got experience of this and what can I do?

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anyone got any ideas before I put him to bed tonight?

My dd1 used to do this a lot, a lot of autistic children have bad dreams, nightmares and see things when they are half asleep, with my dd1 its due to her brain not being able to shut down properly. I think its a case of getting him very relaxed before bed. Have you tried body brushing or any deep presure activities? my dd2 likes to be squished with a gym ball before bed to get her relaxed. Do you leave a light on for him? it maybe that he is seeing shadows on his walls and the fact he is half asleep makes them seem scary?

Does he take Melatonin? have also hear a few parents say that this has caused bad dreams.

Thanks Marne
Just put him to bed (took a long time to actually 'drag' him through the door), and I now know what he is talking about! There is a face on the wall - some tiny lumps in the paint that can't be seen in the daylight. I'd assumed this was a dream as he has had so many nightmares recently.

Not on melatonin, maybe I won't think about putting him on it now either.

Thanks for the pressure ideas, he loves to be tucked in really tight in bed, so will try this. He has the light on as he can't sleep otherwise, yet have to make sure absolutely no cracks in the curtains as he finds them scary.

Weighted blanket?

Maybe get a weighted blanket?

Would it help to have one of those 'over the bed' tents so he is in a smaller space? Think Ikea and Argos both do them. How about a lava lamp/ bubble tube to make the environment less 'frozen' (and hence less scary)?

DS is only 21months but is a terrible sleeper. No hope without growbag, lumilove lights and loud white noise. Even with all that he is often standing up in his cot at 2am shouting 'oh dear, it dark'.

Poor thing, hope he manages to get some sleep. Don't be put off about the melatonin (it has been great for both my dd's), it only has that effect on a small amount of children. Your ds sounds very similar to dd1, she gets very anxious at night (am having problems with her right now).

Maybe get him a nice picture or poster to go on his wall (to cover where the face is). Dd1 has a 'moon in my room' light which she loves and glow in the dark stars to look at when she's still awake.

Hope you find something that works xx

This sort of thing, I mean.

Think I am going to try a weighted blanket - at the moment he sleeps under 2 (thinnish) duvets a blanket and 2 dressing gowns! I did look at them before but became a bit unstuck when reviews on the net were saying do have this/don't have that, as they are so expensive. Are there any personal recommendations here? (Even just what types of fabric you recommend would be a good starting point).
Will look into a tent thing as well if the blanket doesn't work.