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Desperate for help - sensory clothing nightmare. Daughter can't get dressed

Falcon2008

DD (10) has always had sensory issues but it's become so unmanageable in the last few months. I don't know whether it's the added pressures of year 5 (which she finds hard) or the onset of puberty, but it's a daily struggle to get her dressed. Weekends are no better than school days. It's taking 2 hours of hysterical crying to get her dressed at the moment. It's like she's having a panic attack because she finds everything so uncomfortable. Pants seem to be the biggest trigger. We keep missing the start of school as a result. On Sunday she had to miss her friend's birthday party as she just couldn't get dressed and was so distressed.

We're at our wits end. We've got rid of all her clothes and started again with ultra soft pants (in every style), seamless socks and clothes that she has approved as comfortable. But still, every morning is the same.

I've tried putting on relaxing music and giving her a deep pressure massage before dressing, but that isn't working.

If anyone has got any tips at all, I'd be very grateful. We're due to go on holiday next week and I have visions of us having to cancel as we can't get her to the airport on time....

Parents

  • It may not be the clothing that is the root problem. It is possible that it is anxiety about school and social events that is the real problem and that a reluctance to leave the house to go to school is being unconsciously transferred to feelings about clothing. A naked child cannot go out in public, but a clothed one can. The connection between, 'I cannot stand clothing' and, 'without clothing on I cannot be taken out of the house to face a day of social anxiety', once made, could become habitual. With my daughter, it was anxiety that was the problem with getting her to school in the morning. Her anxiety was manifested in very real nausea, abdominal pain and often vomiting.

    About 90% of adult autistics report experiencing significant levels of anxiety.

Reply

  • It may not be the clothing that is the root problem. It is possible that it is anxiety about school and social events that is the real problem and that a reluctance to leave the house to go to school is being unconsciously transferred to feelings about clothing. A naked child cannot go out in public, but a clothed one can. The connection between, 'I cannot stand clothing' and, 'without clothing on I cannot be taken out of the house to face a day of social anxiety', once made, could become habitual. With my daughter, it was anxiety that was the problem with getting her to school in the morning. Her anxiety was manifested in very real nausea, abdominal pain and often vomiting.

    About 90% of adult autistics report experiencing significant levels of anxiety.

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