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Anxiety and refusal to wear clothes

NAS77403

Hi

This is my first post regarding my 8yr old non verbal autistic daughter. The last few months she refused coats , bottoms , cardigans and only wanted to wear tops and shorts. The school said this is part of her sensory issues ( she has been under OT since she was 4yrs old) 

But now  she is completely refusing to wear ANY clothes , she is naked. Every time we try to dress her , she screams , she is literally scared of clothes, her anxiety goes through the roof 

doesn’t want them anywhere near her , 

Because of this she has not been in school for the past 2 weeks , waiting for a CAMHS assessment 

anyone help with suggestions ?

Parents

  • That sounds quite challenging. My son refuses a lot of clothes as well, but I haven't had this. I am wondering what caused it. Do you remember the last clothes she wore? What happened that day? Did she get a hair cut? Did you have a new detergent? Anything out of the ordinary.
    I know sometimes my clothes catch on my skin and it can cause a short painful sensation. Does she tolerate a blanket at night? Does she tolerate towels for drying? That could give you a hint. If she tolerates anything like that I would sew a  sleeveless short nightgown and go from there. If that works maybe add a few cm after a few days, but keep the seem outside.

    I overheat at night often and then wearing long sleeved clothing is like torture. That would scare a young girl too.

    My son is just about always hot. Even if it is subzero he doesn't wear more clothes. He overheats too. Although his feet become ice cold because he takes his socks off on the cold tile floor. I don't know what to do about it anymore either. He knows it cognitively that they're cold, but I don't think he feels it. I got carried away.

    Maybe you could have her help you pick your clothes for the day. I'd put out a few different outfits. Then have her come in and help you pick something for you. In that way you might learn what is more likely something she would tolerate in the future.

    I hope you will figure this out soon. Best of luck.

Reply

  • That sounds quite challenging. My son refuses a lot of clothes as well, but I haven't had this. I am wondering what caused it. Do you remember the last clothes she wore? What happened that day? Did she get a hair cut? Did you have a new detergent? Anything out of the ordinary.
    I know sometimes my clothes catch on my skin and it can cause a short painful sensation. Does she tolerate a blanket at night? Does she tolerate towels for drying? That could give you a hint. If she tolerates anything like that I would sew a  sleeveless short nightgown and go from there. If that works maybe add a few cm after a few days, but keep the seem outside.

    I overheat at night often and then wearing long sleeved clothing is like torture. That would scare a young girl too.

    My son is just about always hot. Even if it is subzero he doesn't wear more clothes. He overheats too. Although his feet become ice cold because he takes his socks off on the cold tile floor. I don't know what to do about it anymore either. He knows it cognitively that they're cold, but I don't think he feels it. I got carried away.

    Maybe you could have her help you pick your clothes for the day. I'd put out a few different outfits. Then have her come in and help you pick something for you. In that way you might learn what is more likely something she would tolerate in the future.

    I hope you will figure this out soon. Best of luck.

Children
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