• Replies 2 replies
  • Subscribers 68 subscribers
  • Views 770 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

13 year old daughter withdrawn since friday

NAS73113

My daughter is waiting to be diagnosed, she has been unwell for 18 months, seen by camhs diagnosed with anxiety and OCD but it has recently become obvious she has autism.

On friday she came home from school and said she was exhausted, more than tired.  SInce then she is not really speaking and when she does it is barely audable.  She is not able to go to school she is just laying on her bed, not really moving.  She is eating and drinking still,  

I've read about withdrawal and why this can happen.  

I'd just like some advise really as it is really distressing.  We are just giving her space and hoping she will come out of it soon.  thanks

  • Females, especially female children who are autistic have a tendency to cover their traits more regularly, the masking is absolutely exhausting with all the other difficulties like trying to understand people, the mind overloaded with information, too much empathy as if they can feel the emotions of the people they see and not self-expressing causes depression through thwarted belonging.  

    If you know what she's greatly interested in leave it with her and let her engage without others around, it could even be said a special interest is an autistic person's friend as it is part of their well-being. When autistic people engage with what they're interested in it can really tune the world that's exhausting them out, then they can switch off and have a break.

  • My older daughter was like this about two years ago (she has since been diagnosed with OCD and is now living a normal life!).  Like you say, she just withdrew. My younger daughter is going through the same right now. What I have learned second time around is to give her space.  My younger daughter, like yours, is exhausted all the time. just wants to sleep and not talk. I leaver her alone but go up every hour or so to check on her and tell her I am here if she wants me.  Sending you love.