How can I stop ds hurting himself?

[macwoozy]

Can anyone offer any ideas as to how I can stop my ds (AS) hitting himself. It is now an everyday occurrence and he really hits his head hard. He does it when he's angry or frustrated.

I've tried ignoring it but that hasn't made any difference, I've threatened him with the removal of priviledges (but haven't done so yet as I don't know if punishment is the way to go).

He started banging his head against the table last night, I tried not to react but it's such a difficult thing to do.

Dp reckons he has now formed some kind of habit and I just don't know how to break it, any ideas how I can stop this?

Incidentally he has such a low pain threshold that I'm shocked that he keeps causing himself so much physical pain. I know he's unhappy at school but other than home educating him there's nothing I can do to help him.

Sorry macwoozy I forgot to add that my suggestion might not be useful at all

My ds is now HEd because he couldnt cope with the stress at school - he still gets angry though, hence recent decision to get him a bean bag

Yet again thank you all for your suggestions. I would have come on here earlier but ds is still not well, poor thing. I was hoping he'd be over it by now.

improvingslowly, I'd never heard of that before, and alot of it is very similar to my ds so that's soemthing that I will look into.

Helenmelons, I've been to CAMHS before with ds and it was an awful experience, but maybe I should put my own feelings aside and try again, my only concern with that is that I would be highlighting ds's behaviour, and that could well amke ds worse although I know ignoring it doesn't seem to be working atm.

davros, interesting website.....

" It seemed that one of the important factors in whether the self-injury increased or decreased was how teachers and parents reacted to the behaviour (i.e. whether they 'shaped it up', without meaning to)"

Now, if only I knew what 'shaped it up' meant!!

Laura my ds would love one of them, he really would but I don't like the price! eek!!!

Thanks for all your help

Macwoozy - re the £££ price. Ive justified ours because my application for DLA was successful. There are also grants available to buy useful things if you have a child with a disability. Other MNetters will know how to apply for one

my DD has SN, but not AS. sHE HURTS HERSELF ALSO, IT IS SO AWFUL

she slaps the side of her face so hard, also bangs her head on the wall. It is when she gets cross

It is so horrible, no advice sorry, need it myself, but just wanted to let you know I understand how upsetting it is

DD doesnt hit herself for long, but aslo very hard at times

I wonder if anything will work as at the time she is so upset and cross

Huge rectangular bean bag arrived today and has been declared a success thus far

macwoozy - do try finding OT who can help with retained reflexes - takes a few months to see a change (and hard to understand how it helps) but certainly seeing some improvements.

also google 'difficulties crossing the midline' - i think it means cant follow things with eyes from left to right without moving head, 2 sides of the body not working together... also helped by the retained reflexes exercises

also now doing 'therapeutic listening' cds which are also helping - he is far more talkative.