My 13yo DD has been under CAMHS for 6 months for severe anxiety and school refusal. Although the school refusal has improved somewhat she is still really struggling.
They initially thought all her behaviours were due to anxiety but are now questioning this and think it is possilble ASD. She does have traits and it has crossed my mind and my other halfs in the past right back to when she was 4 or 5. Equally the traits could be explained as other things though. I know in girls it manifests differently and often is not picked up until they are older.
I 'm really looking for others who have had similar expreinces to find out what he likelihood is that she is ASD.
The main traits/history is:
- School refusal during preschool/infants, no problems at Juniors but it returned as soon as she started secondary. No obvious reason for it although she was diagnsed as dyslexic in year 5 and it may therefore have been anxiety about not being able to keep up that caused the school refusal
- Epic meltdowns - includes shouting/screaming/crying/throwing things around and slamming doors/punching walls. These had lessened between the ages of about 9-11 but have returned with a vengeance since puberty hit. Usually happen when something fairly minor doesn't go right or she is asked to switch tasks/do something she doesn't like
- Sensory issues with her clothes- doesn't like anything that is too tight/with seams. This has improved a little in recent years but when she was younger it often caused meltdowns particularly before school as she found school unifrom uncomfortable. Used to always wear her socks inside out as couldn't bear the feeling of the seams
- Seeminlgy being very sociable and chatty up until the age of 11/12, had lots of different friends but never formed close friendships. If she had a friend round to play would often get bored with them after a short while and want to be by herself. She is now very withdrawn, has a few friends at school but has developed severe social anxiety and constantly questions herself and how she presents. Could just be normal teenage angst? Or could be that she was good at masking up until recently and navigating teenage relationships made it harder?
- Was a bit slow learning colours, numbers, letters but this could be due to dyslexia?
- Has developed compulsive and ritualised behaviours in the last year that interfere heavily with her daily life. Camhs are also lookng at whether they might be indicative of OCD, but she doesn't seem to have superstitious thought around the behaviours, she says she has to do them because if she doesn't she feels too uncomfortable/anxious
- Has a lot of alternative interests to her peers, feels she doesn't fit in (again, normal teen angst?)
Appreciate anyones thoughts, I have just re-read and it feels like I'm asking someone to diagnose her which I know no one here can, really I just want to her from other parents of ASD girls who perhaps were diagnosed later on and whether any of this stuff fits with their expriences?