Harmful stimming

[cobweb]

My son had pneumonia a couple of weeks ago and it really threw him off track. He's started obsessively skin picking and now has about an 4"x6" area of skin on his forearm that is covered in sores.

Every professional that I have talked to seems to think he is picking as a stim because he feels stressed from the illness and change in routine.

If he needs to stim that is fine, but is there anything I can do to encourage another kind of stim? Perhaps something that doesn't risk infection or permanent scars?

Has anyone had any luck with tactile sensory toys?

 

[UtterlyConfusedChristian]

I have worked with a lot of people who have Autism. I am not sure what advice to give to you, because I have never worked with a person with that type of stim.

For what its worth though, a common technique I see that helps parents/ caretakers autistic stims is by telling them to have "quiet hands"... which could help the stim (at least in public/ social situations). Perhaps introducing him to a schedule, which is outlined at the beginning of the day, might help too (I don't know the level of your son's autism or what his abilities are).

I know people who are more experienced with this. I can try and contact them if you would like... maybe they can help.

Peace in the meantime!

 

[cobweb]

Thanks for your advice. We have a visit with his therapist this afternoon and I am going to see if she has any ideas.

He's pretty high functioning. He's diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. The pneumonia just destroyed about a year's worth of progress with his behaviour and it started him skin picking.

The school is going to get him a pressure vest to help keep him calm and has suggested letting him play with therapy putty when he feels like picking. I've explained to him several times how important it is for him to stop picking at his skin.

Hopefully we can find another outlet for his "stimminess" until he feels calm again.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

he's certainly missing enough minerals (and vitamins)
unless you have been giving him extra especially while and after being sick.
dehydration is also very common.
licensed ama doctors prior to 1958 would have known this and told you this.
after 1958 the p-macy won't let them, so you have to do your own research, unless you have the very very rare blessing of having a doctor educated outside the ama about nutrition.