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Hospitalised PDA child

Blueplanet

Please help! My 12 year old has had an autistic shutdown with severe PDA, low mood- severe anxiety, angry dysregulations, no self care for 4 months ( same clothes since admission, no brushing or bathing) on a hospital ward under CTO, unable to take medications or engage with any psychological interventions. He has become non verbal in hospital, communicating with typing only on Ipad. He is unable to clearly describe his emotions but is clearly depressed with extreme negative thought ruminations. 

A high achieving, regular school attender in primary but this year with transition to secondary school, has experienced bullying at school and refuses to attend- terrified about online schooling too. Stuck in hospital and his anxiety is worsening about not being able to go home. Community Teams feeling worried to let him home as he needed a very traumatising regimen of multiple sedative intramuscular injections to get him to hospital. I have informed the MHO of the situation but no one seems to have a clue how to move forward.

Any thoughts and suggestions about what I can do to help my son, is most appreciated. 

Parents

  • Hey, I'm so sorry for what you are going through right now, that sounds really distressing for you and your child.

    Hospitals keep people safe, but aren't really designed around autistic peoples needs. I had a close family member who had to be an inpatient for a while, and it's not an easy place to heal. They did manage, but it's not always easy.

    Can you bring in anything from home, even small things that are allowed just to make the very unfamiliar place feel more familiar and safe? If he's not engaged in any self care, I imagine he must be finding it difficult to feel safe and come down from 'fight or flight' mode. Even if it's just small things when you are there, like playing music he likes? Anything to engage along side really, or watching videos of games being played? Not changing his clothes and refusing to brush teeth is a way of holding on to a small amount of control in a situation where you feel very much out of control. Maybe these will improve with building connection?

    The sensory environment can be very challenging too, with bright lights and bright walls, if you are able to fight for things that might help his particular needs, like if the lights are too bright, or if it's too noisy for him? See if you can speak to the staff who know about autism and make sure they are doing things to help ease the stress he's under.  Try and find out what therapies they are trying and research for ones that might work better? Like I've heard art therapy can be good for kids, where as CBT type therapies can often not work? 

    I obviously don't know what will help in the end, but do keep advocating for him and pushing for his needs (if he can write them down for you), to be met. It's really heartbreaking, I do wish for a steady road to recovery for him, and strength for you to help get him there.

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  • Hey, I'm so sorry for what you are going through right now, that sounds really distressing for you and your child.

    Hospitals keep people safe, but aren't really designed around autistic peoples needs. I had a close family member who had to be an inpatient for a while, and it's not an easy place to heal. They did manage, but it's not always easy.

    Can you bring in anything from home, even small things that are allowed just to make the very unfamiliar place feel more familiar and safe? If he's not engaged in any self care, I imagine he must be finding it difficult to feel safe and come down from 'fight or flight' mode. Even if it's just small things when you are there, like playing music he likes? Anything to engage along side really, or watching videos of games being played? Not changing his clothes and refusing to brush teeth is a way of holding on to a small amount of control in a situation where you feel very much out of control. Maybe these will improve with building connection?

    The sensory environment can be very challenging too, with bright lights and bright walls, if you are able to fight for things that might help his particular needs, like if the lights are too bright, or if it's too noisy for him? See if you can speak to the staff who know about autism and make sure they are doing things to help ease the stress he's under.  Try and find out what therapies they are trying and research for ones that might work better? Like I've heard art therapy can be good for kids, where as CBT type therapies can often not work? 

    I obviously don't know what will help in the end, but do keep advocating for him and pushing for his needs (if he can write them down for you), to be met. It's really heartbreaking, I do wish for a steady road to recovery for him, and strength for you to help get him there.

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