Autism and intrusive thoughts

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.

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.