OCD/Aspergers

[Calum]

Evening all,

 

My 9 year old laddie has recently started having issues crossing doorway thresholds. He feels that if he doesn't cross from one room into another correctly (and he can't describe to me what correcetly is, seems to vary), he'll land up in a parallel universe where things will be different and scary.

 

This also occurs

When he's hanging up his dressing gown

Looking to/from the TV to the wall

Crossing from flagstones to driveway in the garden

Touching his glass on the table

glancing at me whilt eating his meals

 

The list goes on but is varied. Problem is now that it's getting the better of him and he's having to come downstairs to ask for help to get into his room. My wife (Fiona) has lifted him across once or twice but I'm looking for advice as to how to get him to help himself.

 

Any thoughts please?

 

Thanks much,

Calum

[barefoot wend]

My son also went through a period of obsessively worrying that he had slipped into a parallel universe. He used to constantly ask what was the last thing I said to him when he last saw me (about 2 mins previously) and if I changed clothes, tied my hair back, or altered my appearance in any way during the day he was convinced he'd slipped into a parallel universe. He was scared to close his eyes in case it happened then as well. It was so draining on him - and me!

 

We tried CBT using books, 'Mind Over Mood' and 'Think Good - Feel Good' (good for your son's age), which helped to a certain extent and enabled us talk through the issues. Eventually, as with most of his obsessions, it passed.

 

My main advice would be to talk about it and reassure him that you are in charge and that he must trust that you are not going to let anything happen to him - I was quite adamant about this point and, I think, he learned to believe me.

 

Hope it resolves soon.

 

Barefoot

[Calum]

My son also went through a period of obsessively worrying that he had slipped into a parallel universe. He used to constantly ask what was the last thing I said to him when he last saw me (about 2 mins previously) and if I changed clothes, tied my hair back, or altered my appearance in any way during the day he was convinced he'd slipped into a parallel universe. He was scared to close his eyes in case it happened then as well. It was so draining on him - and me!

 

We tried CBT using books, 'Mind Over Mood' and 'Think Good - Feel Good' (good for your son's age), which helped to a certain extent and enabled us talk through the issues. Eventually, as with most of his obsessions, it passed.

 

My main advice would be to talk about it and reassure him that you are in charge and that he must trust that you are not going to let anything happen to him - I was quite adamant about this point and, I think, he learned to believe me.

 

Hope it resolves soon.

 

Barefoot

 

Interesting... Here's me thinking we're the only ones! Do you know per chance if it's OCD that causes this and is OCD more prevalent in people with Aspergers? Or is this just part of having Aspergers?

 

I'll look into those books - thanks!

[barefoot wend]

Is OCD more prevalent with AS? Really complex question as many experts disagree on whether OCD presents differently in those with autism and AS from general population - see Baron-Cohen and Ghaziuddin ( wrote excellent book called 'Mental Health Aspects of Autism and Asperger Syndrome').

 

Consultant once drew diagram for me where he put big box in middle of page with AS in, then off it lots of little boxes with titles such as OCD, Dyspraxia, Anxiety, ADHD, depression, etc. It is very easy to see AS as an umbrella term but there can be many components making up the whole picture and these individual components can be amenable to treatment.

 

OCD is certainly classed as an anxiety disorder and those with AS can be very prone to anxiety so I don't think it uncommon to find OCD as part of the bigger picture.

 

As the consultant said, individual components are amenable to treatment. CBT helped my son but we also tried an SSRI which can help with OCD and it has been of benefit.

 

Barefoot

[Calum]

Sounds reasonable. When we went to see the consultant in Aberdeen, she intimated that there were lots of symptoms to Aspergers - none of which are common in every single case. What I am starting to realise is that Alexander is becoming much more aware of his condition and the limitations it's placing on the way he perceives the world and those around him.

 

Trying to put it into words that he can understand at 10 is difficult especially when he lacks the ability to be able to sympathise and empathise.

[Tally]

Obsessional type issues do seem to be a common part of autism (liking things a certain way, likeing predictability and routine), but these are slightly different to OCD.

 

In OCD you get obsessions which can be about things like dirt, illness or something bad happening.

Then you get compulsions which are a way of preventing the bad things from happening, such as excessive hand-washing to prevent dirt.

 

What you describe does sound more like OCD than the types of obsessive behaviour often seen in ASD. Your son fears falling into a parallel universe and feels compelled to cross the threshold in a certain way to prevent this happening. This is a bit different to someone who stores their CDs in alphabetical order just because they like them that way.

 

CBT is a type of therapy that is particularly helpful with OCD. It involves identifying the problematic thought patterns and replacing them with something more realistic. In your son's case it would probably mean looking both at the fear of falling into a parallel universe, and also the connection with crossing the threshold the right way.

 

Lifting him across unfortunately is only going to confirm to him that crossing the threshold is scary and he needs help with it. I do understand that it's extremely difficult to do anything else when faced with a child who is scared to go into his bedroom though! Which is why I think you need some specialist help with this so you can get some guidance on how best to help him.

[Calum]

Morning all,

 

Had a meeting with the clinical Physchologist yesterday. Interesting session with the following outcomes:

1. Seems to be bourne from a worry or anxiety deep rooted - we didn't try and delve into what it was...

2. He's going to try and overcome easy ones first and reduce the number of times he does it. Then progress onto more difficult ones

3. This is the fun bit! I need to try and find some proof that we can't physically 'jump' from one universe to another.

4. Came up with a good idea... Anyone ever seen Inception? I'm going to try and find Alexander a 'token' of some sort so he can carry it around with him so he knows he's still in this Universe.

 

Next step if this all doesn't work is medication apparently but I would rather avoid that where possible! Anyone know anything about the medication in case we need to look at that as a last resort?