• Replies 5 replies
  • Subscribers 65 subscribers
  • Views 1120 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

Self harming as a way of self calming alternatives please

At a loss

Hi, My son is 14 and has ASD and ADHD along with other associated disabilities. His main problem that has brought me here is his anger and inability to deal with his emotions.

He came home from school yesterday with a bite mark on his hand, when questioned he said he had gotten angry with some kids at school and bitten himself to distract him from his anger.

I would like to say I am very very proud that he self calmed as this has been a huge issue in the past. He would not think before lashing out he would go from calm to angry to hurting someone in a split second. So take away the biting as a method of self calming and I am over joyed. 

I need help coming up with an alternative to biting for him as I don't feel this is a healthy option. It was suggested that an elastic band on the wrist be used. This is a great option but my son with an elastic band is not, it would be taken off and flicked in a millisecond.

Any Ideas?

Thank you

Louise

Parents

  • I joined an autism group this week and they were discussing how biting and chewing gum or just making a chewing action is a calming method initself, so he may have bitten himself subconciously knowing the biting action (not pain) would help.

    My daughter is having terrible issues at the minute with anger (she is 8) and I have been at a loss with this, the last thing was to try to throw half a brick at me, thank fully she threw it to the floor instead.  But she has been spitting in my face, being verbally abusive, hitting, kicking and loads of other things all aimed at me.

    She had always had a thing for eating plastic bottles (to the point where she will be having 4 teeth pulled shortly!) so I bought her a chew thing from the sensory website, but she found it would collect fluff and never used it.  This group had some different ones which are much better.

    Could he have one of these (they can be worn as a necklace, but are quite large, so maybe in a pocket). I noted the using things as weopons above so not sure it would work.

    Since I gave it too her, she has had it constantly and this evening she was the best she has been for ages.  We went for a walk and she held my hand half the time, crossed roads sensibly (mostly), did go crazy in the shop, but I can't expect miracles! Most notably, in the shop she started to verbally abuse me, when she stopped and changed the wording so it was nowhere near so derogatory.  I praised her on her efforts and she was still hyper, but not aggressive or rude anymore. To say I was gobsmacked was an understatement.

    I do think this has taken some of her tension away, but obviously can't prove it.  If you are interested, I can ask the group where they came from and what it is called?

    I hope this was useful to you.

    CJ

Reply

  • I joined an autism group this week and they were discussing how biting and chewing gum or just making a chewing action is a calming method initself, so he may have bitten himself subconciously knowing the biting action (not pain) would help.

    My daughter is having terrible issues at the minute with anger (she is 8) and I have been at a loss with this, the last thing was to try to throw half a brick at me, thank fully she threw it to the floor instead.  But she has been spitting in my face, being verbally abusive, hitting, kicking and loads of other things all aimed at me.

    She had always had a thing for eating plastic bottles (to the point where she will be having 4 teeth pulled shortly!) so I bought her a chew thing from the sensory website, but she found it would collect fluff and never used it.  This group had some different ones which are much better.

    Could he have one of these (they can be worn as a necklace, but are quite large, so maybe in a pocket). I noted the using things as weopons above so not sure it would work.

    Since I gave it too her, she has had it constantly and this evening she was the best she has been for ages.  We went for a walk and she held my hand half the time, crossed roads sensibly (mostly), did go crazy in the shop, but I can't expect miracles! Most notably, in the shop she started to verbally abuse me, when she stopped and changed the wording so it was nowhere near so derogatory.  I praised her on her efforts and she was still hyper, but not aggressive or rude anymore. To say I was gobsmacked was an understatement.

    I do think this has taken some of her tension away, but obviously can't prove it.  If you are interested, I can ask the group where they came from and what it is called?

    I hope this was useful to you.

    CJ

Children
No Data