My son is 12 years old and was diagnosed with ASD last year.
Just before he went to sleep last night he told me that he is really worried because he keeps hearing voices which tell him to hit someone . I asked him when he heard these voices -was it at school or at home . He said Anywhere . He said that he felt really angry and wasn`t sure why . He also said that he wanted to know what would happen if he did it (hit somone )
I asked him if he thought that he would hit someone- he said that he wouldn`t . He said that he didn`t want to hit someone but that the voices were annoying him and worrying him .
I am not at all sure what to think . How worried should I be ?
Can you ask him if the voices are external, like a voice clearly talking to him, or internal, like a strong compelling thought.
If its external I would be worried, and would see profesisonal advice.
If its internal it could be intrusive thoughts which can come with anxiety, and particularly with OCD.
Bipolar disorder can cause that too.
Amy,he says that the voices are internal . I don`t know much about OCD or Bipolar disoder -would be grateful for any info
Intrusive Thoughts
One of the most painful elements of OCD are the intrusive thoughts that many people with OCD experience.
These involuntary thoughts or images become obsessions. The main features of intrusive obsessive thoughts are that they are automatic, frequent, upsetting or distressing, and difficult to control or get rid of.
These can manifest themselves as mental rituals such as repeating words or phrases, counting, or saying a prayer. Not all types of intrustive thoughts are listed here. The main features are that they are repetitive and stereotyped actions the person feels forced to perform. People can have compulsions without having obsessional thoughts but, very often, these two occur together. Carrying out a compulsion reduces the person's anxiety and makes the urge to perform the compulsion again stronger each time.
http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/ocdaction/index.asp?id=433
Thank -you Amy . I have a lot of reading and thinking to do .
Thank you so much for pointing me in the right direction for more information
No problem. There are OCD elements within Asperger's anyway, but it can be diagnosed as a comorbid too.
Amy I am not sure what a comorbid is . I would be grateful for any explanation. Thanks
A condition that goes with another one, depression is a common comorbid with aspergers, for example.
fitzron, you could try telling your son that even though he hears the voices telling him to do something, HE is the one who has ultimate control of what his body does (like the captain of a ship) and he can tell the voices to shut up, or at the very least, not act on them. I mean, we hear ads on TV all the time telling us to buy stuff, but unless we really want to, we won't buy what's advertised.
Just an idea.
Alison
Yes thats a good point .I think that the voices happen in times of anxiety but it is true that he needs to feel that he controls his thoughts/voices not the other way round
The problem is that the voices are him too.
So he would then be in a conflict within himself, and be telling himself to shut up. Though it might help if he can understand what is happening in his brain.
OCD can make a thought occur spontaneously, especially if it's something that you actually don't want to do, or know you mustn't do, a but like when a person with tourrette's could swear at times when they know it's most important not to swear.
If he knows that there is a trigger in his brain that creates the thought automatically, and that is beyond his control, and that its fine to ignore that thought (as opposed to normal important thoughts like 'I need a drink' 'I am tired' etc) though ignoring it is easier said than done of course.
Also new bad thoughts can crop up and replace the old one.