Bolting when anxious

[KOKOagainandagain]

DS2 is 8, ASD with sensory stuff and has always been more of a wanderer (following internal impulses) than a runner.

We have been rather home and non-challenging environments based for the past couple of years (DS1) but last week went to Alton towers. DS1 loved the scary rides but DS2 ran in blind panic whenever he was nearby accidentally and had to be taken to other parts of the park. He wouldn't even take the monorail from the car park to the entrance and DH had to walk with him. I ended up in cbeebies land with him and baby nephews.

What's going on? Should I tell his OT? He is undergoing SA atm with the proposed/NIL due next week.

It seemed to be the screams. At one point he found himself under Air and was running backwards and forwards declaring 'oh no - it's everywhere'. DS1 found this hilarious and worthy of repeating, frequently.

What about noise cancelling headphones?

It sounds like sensory overload, lots of ASD kids get like this in environments like that. Unfortunately there is nowhere really quiet that they can go and chill in alton towers.
Sometimes there are just some places where they can't go because they just can't cope.

Alton Towers causes me massive sensory overload, the noise of the rides, the screamming, the amount of people, the smells!! Just everything really, I usually end up with an awful headache and feeling sick.

Last time we went there was blaring music right by the door of the guest services where you get your exit pass!! Before we even got to the rides my stress levels were through the roof!

Dd3 on the other hand is a sensory seeker and gets really over stimulated by it all. She is not mad on the fast rides but will stand watching them, she loves the spinning rides like sonic spinball

I would try eardefenders or a music player with earphones to block out some of the noise. And definitly get an OT assessment.

Good luck

I recognise the feral, terrified and about to run for the hills look v well. Ds very much struggled with certain types of environments when he was younger.
I learnt to avoid places that would cause him that level of anxiety when he was little ( coz it was distressing enough to see another human that anxious tbh) and then when he was older we got him to manage it himself using an anxiety scale. This made everyone's life a bit easier. He felt in control and could opt out if he needed to
Tbh though ...He's nearly 17 now and he would see no point in going to Alton towers ( hates the noise/ crowds/ overpowering food smells plus hates scary rides-so hell on earth for him basically :-))

That would have sent DS1 running as well. He starts to look cornered when there's no escape from the noise or stimulation. Some places will just have to be avoided unfortunately, although ear defenders may help.

My DS is a bolter when he gets stressed or overwhelmed. His OT refers to it as a fight or flight response to stress. The trigger is often sensory, but anything that makes him anxious could send him into flight mode. He reminds me of a terrified, cornered animal when he's like this (especially if there's nowhere to run and he just curls up in a corner screaming, snarling and lashing out .

I could have written that post Jackster. My ds hides under our bed, or whimpers and squeaks on the sofa. He went through a phase of running away and hiding at school too

Thanks

I have phoned his OT and am waiting for a call back.

It was the look of terror in his eyes At one point I had to extract him from behind a bin in a corner where he had tried to hide.

I was feeling guilty that I hadn't exposed him to that sort of environment but it is clearly an unthinking flight reaction not fear of the unfamiliar that can be reasoned with.

I worked my DS up to Alton Towers.
I took him to Thomas Land a when he was 3 and 4 and it was too much for him. He was constantly bolting and having meltdowns so i binned off theme parks as he wasn't enjoying them.

Then when he was 6 i took him to Sundown Adventure Park which is a theme park for under 8's. It's really laid back and quiet and he enjoyed it and we went back the next year and also went to Wheelgate Park. Then we upgraded to Gullivers Kingdom which is a little bit bigger and has a few bigger rides and he was fine there as well.
Then we went to Legoland last year which he absolutely loved - he is obsessed with Lego!
Then after Legoland i tried him with Alton Towers. He was fine. He loved going on the scary rides especially the vomit inducing sonic ride and 13.
I would never take him on a weekend because it would be too busy for him, i always go on either Tuesday or Wednesday as they are the quietest days at theme parks.
Building him up seems to have worked as its gradually introduced him to the extra noise/crowds and he seems to have built up his tolerance as he has got older. I'm not saying he is perfect, he still struggles but its much better and he gets enjoyment out of it.