Autism and intrusive thoughts

Dave i think u missed some words there  --- it's just that u are providing useful info so please fix 

Well, I was a child who had intrusive thoughts about illness and  death, from pre-school age in fact and I still do ALL the time. They aren't always a sign of psychosis and I'm certainly not psychotic, just so phobic I can think of little else.

I'd say your daughter is lucky to have an aware, caring mum.

These things are not necessarily suicidal, although they can be and that needs checking out. 

What I can say is the one thing I wish I'd had as a kid was someone I could have told who would have reassured me. It would have made all the difference, I think.

I can remember being only three and learning about death. I was terrified that I would die and be buried without my favourite stuffed toy. I said this to my mother who just said I shouldn't be thinking things like that at my age - end of conversation! With that, I got the clear message that my thoughts and fears were not allowed, I had been disapproved of for thinking and internalised all future dark thoughts and became one huge ball of anxiety about illness and death. I could confide them in no one.

I later found a faith which sits well with my logic and experience and removes my fear of death. Trouble is that opens the door to actively wanting it sometimes.

I guess what I am offering is an object lesson in what not to do. However  you are aware she has them. That's terrific. And you want to take her seriously. Perfect!. If she can now be encouraged to tell someone, even if not you, she can get some reassurance and some strategies for batting those thoughts away rather than let them fester into needless anxiety.

I deal with this myself I'm not too sure what to say to help your situation I've lived with it my whole life, for me intrusive thoughts are not always violent or evil sometimes they can be random funny stuff. It can be upsetting I've had horrible thoughts to do with myself, my family and pets etc. But I would never act on it it's become something that I just live with and I just say to my brain shut up you're stupid. Usually it goes away pretty quickly and I'll forget it sometimes it doesn't but I also feel like I don't have it as bad as other people. I think it's important to find out whether or not she wants to act on those thoughts and make them a reality

My son is 10 and has lots of intrusive thoughts about murdering people and hurting himself (although he states he has no intension of doing either) he finds these thoughts very upsetting, it’s heartbreaking. Sorry I couldn’t be more help xx

There is a Facebook group you may find useful.

Prof David Veale and the Oxford OCD clinic are useful avenues. But she is young and distraction mindfulness music therapy. There is an overlap with ocd and autism 

I don't have a child with this but my ex GF told me she had this a long time,been under MH teams since a teen,now 45. I think everyone gets these thoughts,including myself,so tho that is the case,u should ask ur daughter if she has a problem with them cos of what they are,she should either talk to CAMS,or u if she can. If they are bottled up,she could dwell on them. Unfortunately under MH they will use anti psychotics to try and solve the problem. I'd suggest any help u and daughter are given,take it-as soon as she'll get into adulthood the MH teams are just a depo service. Maybe she could concentrate on as many that make her happy or be in a calm state. Colouring books as one example. Would advise try to limit her internet time,as alot of people take advantage out there,or make suicidal thoughts worse.

try this info to see if it is useful

https://camhs.elft.nhs.uk/Conditions/Self-harm-and-suicidal-thoughts

tell ur daughter that you are scared and worried  and that

it is ok

to have

and

to talk about dark thoughts with you and other people

Intrusive thoughts are a sign of OCD. Usually Autism and OCD are Co-morbid. One usually fluctuates between both.

Sorry ignore the 'trt'.. was a typing error. 

My DS is 11 and has intrusive thoughts. We have tried CBT, but he didn't like the therapist.  Sometimes mindfulness works for him. Do try mindfulness techniques. 

Trt