Night terrors and anxiety in a child with Aspergers http://parentingaspergers.com/blog/night-terrors-and-anxiety-in-a-child-with-aspergers Aspergers Syndrome-Aspergers-Aspergers Disease-Aspergers Disorder-Autism Aspergers-ASD-Asperger Syndrome-Asperger-Asbergers-Asbergers Syndrome-Asberger Syndrome-Asberger-Autistic-Autistic Children-Autism Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:41:37 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 Night terrors and anxiety in a child with Aspergers http://parentingaspergers.com/blog/night-terrors-and-anxiety-in-a-child-with-aspergers/comment-page-1#comment-4830 Sophie Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:13:18 +0000 http://parentingaspergers.com/blog/?p=147#comment-4830 My son is 9 and sleep is and always has been an issue. He had night terrors from a very early age, screaming, growling, writhing and lashing out physically often with his eyes open. We couldn't touch him at all, often being hit and punched trying to calm him or hold him. I just sat in his room quietly (terrified!) until it was over, about 30 minutes. He did sweat a great deal during sleep all the time whatever the season, often stripping off and wrapping himself tightly in a favourite silky blanket. The night terrors are very few now as he has grown, but his fear of actually falling asleep increased. He really is scared of sleep, he fights it off and says that he doesn't know where he is going and that's scary. Lots of things in his room have been removed at his request also, certain stuffed animals that seem to stare at him, posters that he sees patterns in etc. Two things have worked extremely well are audio books and soft lighting. Just make sure that the stories are not too stimulating or scary. He also finds it soothing to have a fiddle toy to occupy his hands too, he says that the worst part about bedtime is that his mind can't shut off and he wants to be busy and doing things. Sometimes I have to lay down next to him (but can't actually touch his body) for reassurance. There are so many factors involved in his sleeptime that most nights we don't get to sit down until very late and we can be just as sleep deprived as when he was a baby! Hope this helps someone. My son is 9 and sleep is and always has been an issue. He had night terrors from a very early age, screaming, growling, writhing and lashing out physically often with his eyes open. We couldn’t touch him at all, often being hit and punched trying to calm him or hold him. I just sat in his room quietly (terrified!) until it was over, about 30 minutes. He did sweat a great deal during sleep all the time whatever the season, often stripping off and wrapping himself tightly in a favourite silky blanket. The night terrors are very few now as he has grown, but his fear of actually falling asleep increased. He really is scared of sleep, he fights it off and says that he doesn’t know where he is going and that’s scary. Lots of things in his room have been removed at his request also, certain stuffed animals that seem to stare at him, posters that he sees patterns in etc. Two things have worked extremely well are audio books and soft lighting. Just make sure that the stories are not too stimulating or scary. He also finds it soothing to have a fiddle toy to occupy his hands too, he says that the worst part about bedtime is that his mind can’t shut off and he wants to be busy and doing things. Sometimes I have to lay down next to him (but can’t actually touch his body) for reassurance. There are so many factors involved in his sleeptime that most nights we don’t get to sit down until very late and we can be just as sleep deprived as when he was a baby! Hope this helps someone.

]]> Night terrors and anxiety in a child with Aspergers http://parentingaspergers.com/blog/night-terrors-and-anxiety-in-a-child-with-aspergers/comment-page-1#comment-4829 Karla Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:00:24 +0000 http://parentingaspergers.com/blog/?p=147#comment-4829 oh, I forgot... she also gets very hot at bedtime. She sleeps in her undies and we go in and cover her up after she is sleeping. We also have a bristle brush that we brush her skin w/ and that helps to calm her down before bed. oh, I forgot… she also gets very hot at bedtime. She sleeps in her undies and we go in and cover her up after she is sleeping. We also have a bristle brush that we brush her skin w/ and that helps to calm her down before bed.

]]> Night terrors and anxiety in a child with Aspergers http://parentingaspergers.com/blog/night-terrors-and-anxiety-in-a-child-with-aspergers/comment-page-1#comment-4828 Karla Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:57:20 +0000 http://parentingaspergers.com/blog/?p=147#comment-4828 My daughter is 8 as a small child before her dx she suffered horribly from night terrors (not nightmares) she would wake screaming w/ a horribly terrified face and nothing you could do would console her. We would have to go in and just hold her down until she calmed and then she would remember nothing of it the next day. She hasn't done that in a while but now does not go to sleep. She used to get up all hourse. Calling infomercials 800 numbers, cooking corndogs in the microwave, etc... We got her her own t.v. and dvd player and put a desk w/ art supplies in her room, and now when she can't sleep she stays in her room and watches t.v. or sits at her desk and draws. She does have trouble w/ nightmares now though. When on prozac it was horrible, she was afraid to sleep. Quit that and put her on Clonodin for a while which helped in gettting to sleep but getting her to take the pill was a nightmare in itself. So we opt to just deal w/ it. We read stories and I tuck her in and turn down lights. We set a timer on the t.v. and she usually goes to sleep w/in a couple hours. She then wakes 4-5am and reads or draws or watches a movie quietly. We have a baby gate at the top of the stairs in case there is any sleep walking or such. (I talked and walked in my sleep as a child) We do have to be careful though. She gets fearful after watching some things so we closely monitor her shows and she also gets scared of things on her walls or in her room. She has some wall stickers that glowed and we didn't know it and those scared her. She colored a picture of George Washington and hung it in her room and a couple weeks ago told me George scares her at night because his eyes watch her. We had to move him. These childrens imaginations are wild and really any little thing could trigger a problem... Each parent must decide what works best for their child, but sleep problems happen regardless of meds or no meds or whatever. Our doc said that it is as if the mind of a child w/ Aspergers never shuts off, so they can't sleep well. My daughter is 8 as a small child before her dx she suffered horribly from night terrors (not nightmares) she would wake screaming w/ a horribly terrified face and nothing you could do would console her. We would have to go in and just hold her down until she calmed and then she would remember nothing of it the next day. She hasn’t done that in a while but now does not go to sleep. She used to get up all hourse. Calling infomercials 800 numbers, cooking corndogs in the microwave, etc… We got her her own t.v. and dvd player and put a desk w/ art supplies in her room, and now when she can’t sleep she stays in her room and watches t.v. or sits at her desk and draws. She does have trouble w/ nightmares now though. When on prozac it was horrible, she was afraid to sleep. Quit that and put her on Clonodin for a while which helped in gettting to sleep but getting her to take the pill was a nightmare in itself. So we opt to just deal w/ it. We read stories and I tuck her in and turn down lights. We set a timer on the t.v. and she usually goes to sleep w/in a couple hours. She then wakes 4-5am and reads or draws or watches a movie quietly. We have a baby gate at the top of the stairs in case there is any sleep walking or such. (I talked and walked in my sleep as a child) We do have to be careful though. She gets fearful after watching some things so we closely monitor her shows and she also gets scared of things on her walls or in her room. She has some wall stickers that glowed and we didn’t know it and those scared her. She colored a picture of George Washington and hung it in her room and a couple weeks ago told me George scares her at night because his eyes watch her. We had to move him. These childrens imaginations are wild and really any little thing could trigger a problem… Each parent must decide what works best for their child, but sleep problems happen regardless of meds or no meds or whatever. Our doc said that it is as if the mind of a child w/ Aspergers never shuts off, so they can’t sleep well.

]]> Night terrors and anxiety in a child with Aspergers http://parentingaspergers.com/blog/night-terrors-and-anxiety-in-a-child-with-aspergers/comment-page-1#comment-4825 Connie Sat, 29 Nov 2008 12:22:37 +0000 http://parentingaspergers.com/blog/?p=147#comment-4825 My five year old daughter is PDD, ADHD, FAE. She sleeps with two night lights on, but once she is asleep she usually stays asleep. The only thing that will wake her up is loud noises such as a garbage truch or thunder. Then she calls for me and will want to sleep with me the rest of the night. ( My husband ends up on the couch :) ) My five year old daughter is PDD, ADHD, FAE. She sleeps with two night lights on, but once she is asleep she usually stays asleep. The only thing that will wake her up is loud noises such as a garbage truch or thunder. Then she calls for me and will want to sleep with me the rest of the night. ( My husband ends up on the couch :) )

]]> Night terrors and anxiety in a child with Aspergers http://parentingaspergers.com/blog/night-terrors-and-anxiety-in-a-child-with-aspergers/comment-page-1#comment-4824 vicki douds Fri, 28 Nov 2008 20:48:17 +0000 http://parentingaspergers.com/blog/?p=147#comment-4824 Working as an ASD Consultant, I regularly make use of the CBT Exploring Feelings management programmes designed by Tony Attwood. They are adaptable to different ages and circumstances and can often bring about the desired afect of inner knowledge for the person with ASD to manage their feelings of anxiety and anger and to bring about building a "Tool Box which gives tools to fix issues as they arise. Information is power and finding a structured way of working through issues reaps great benefits and decrease the level of uncertainty, fear that many people with ASD can live with. Working as an ASD Consultant, I regularly make use of the CBT Exploring Feelings management programmes designed by Tony Attwood.

They are adaptable to different ages and circumstances and can often bring about the desired afect of inner knowledge for the person with ASD to manage their feelings of anxiety and anger and to bring about building a “Tool Box which gives tools to fix issues as they arise.

Information is power and finding a structured way of working through issues reaps great benefits and decrease the level of uncertainty, fear that many people with ASD can live with.

]]> Night terrors and anxiety in a child with Aspergers http://parentingaspergers.com/blog/night-terrors-and-anxiety-in-a-child-with-aspergers/comment-page-1#comment-4822 MaryCamilla Fri, 28 Nov 2008 12:26:16 +0000 http://parentingaspergers.com/blog/?p=147#comment-4822 My 22 yr old aspie son wont go to bed at night but sleeps all day.He is not on any meds.The odd time he will go to bed at 4pm .Hubby spoke about turning off the computers but others use this computer (22 yr old has his own)He has being like that for the past maybe 4/5 years.I have an older aspie son 26 who would go to bed at 6pm if he was let My 22 yr old aspie son wont go to bed at night but sleeps all day.He is not on any meds.The odd time he will go to bed at 4pm .Hubby spoke about turning off the computers but others use this computer (22 yr old has his own)He has being like that for the past maybe 4/5 years.I have an older aspie son 26 who would go to bed at 6pm if he was let

]]> Night terrors and anxiety in a child with Aspergers http://parentingaspergers.com/blog/night-terrors-and-anxiety-in-a-child-with-aspergers/comment-page-1#comment-4820 Leesa Fri, 28 Nov 2008 00:34:27 +0000 http://parentingaspergers.com/blog/?p=147#comment-4820 I still don't have my 5 year old in his own bed. I'm getting prepared however. Christmas lights on a slow strobe and timer around the ceiling, music for children by Anthony Miles and mirrors in his room so he doesn't feel alone. Donna Williams provided me with these tips. Also husband will sleep in the second bed until he settles. I still don’t have my 5 year old in his own bed. I’m getting prepared however. Christmas lights on a slow strobe and timer around the ceiling, music for children by Anthony Miles and mirrors in his room so he doesn’t feel alone. Donna Williams provided me with these tips. Also husband will sleep in the second bed until he settles.

]]> Night terrors and anxiety in a child with Aspergers http://parentingaspergers.com/blog/night-terrors-and-anxiety-in-a-child-with-aspergers/comment-page-1#comment-4819 wendy hammons Thu, 27 Nov 2008 22:49:09 +0000 http://parentingaspergers.com/blog/?p=147#comment-4819 I have a fifteen year old son who has asperger's. He was dignosed at age 6. Back then we had a horrable time keeping him awake.I would pick him up from school and he would sleep all the way home. He would fall asleep doing his homework, eating dinner, and he would fall asleep taking his bath. His doctors told me that he was in a mental shut down from having to try to focus all day. this got better after we started the adderall. He has always had a certin bedtime. He still has panic attacks at times but these are getting better. I know when he was younger he was frightened of everything it seemed like. We could not walk by trees, dogs, I had to be very careful of what he watched on tv, including the nightly news. If he heard about a robbery, or someone getting shot he would panic and it was hard to comfort him. My husband had to quit his night job, because our neighbor got beat up real bad one night and knocked on our door for help, my son freeked out so bad because he keep thinking that if some one could do that to our neighbor(man)then they would kill me and him.He would not sleep and would cry and make himself sick until we both passed out from being so tired. so my husband finaly quit his night job and found one in the daytime. I still have to be careful of what he watches but it is not as bad now that he is older and able to understand things about society better. I have a fifteen year old son who has asperger’s. He was dignosed at age 6. Back then we had a horrable time keeping him awake.I would pick him up from school and he would sleep all the way home. He would fall asleep doing his homework, eating dinner, and he would fall asleep taking his bath. His doctors told me that he was in a mental shut down from having to try to focus all day. this got better after we started the adderall. He has always had a certin bedtime. He still has panic attacks at times but these are getting better. I know when he was younger he was frightened of everything it seemed like. We could not walk by trees, dogs, I had to be very careful of what he watched on tv, including the nightly news. If he heard about a robbery, or someone getting shot he would panic and it was hard to comfort him. My husband had to quit his night job, because our neighbor got beat up real bad one night and knocked on our door for help, my son freeked out so bad because he keep thinking that if some one could do that to our neighbor(man)then they would kill me and him.He would not sleep and would cry and make himself sick until we both passed out from being so tired. so my husband finaly quit his night job and found one in the daytime. I still have to be careful of what he watches but it is not as bad now that he is older and able to understand things about society better.

]]> Night terrors and anxiety in a child with Aspergers http://parentingaspergers.com/blog/night-terrors-and-anxiety-in-a-child-with-aspergers/comment-page-1#comment-4818 janet marshall Thu, 27 Nov 2008 06:52:12 +0000 http://parentingaspergers.com/blog/?p=147#comment-4818 my son who is nearly 8 is a terrible sleeper and waking me on average 4 times a night, i was told about weighted blankets and i was not too keen on spending a £100 to buy a blanket that may be wont work, so the ot told us to try lots of blankets firmly tucked in and it is helping, it has not stopped the night mares, or night terrors but he does not get out of bed so often although does cry out for me, and i still some times have to lie with him for a while, so mayb i wil buy one, now in the winter lots of blankets are ok but not so much fun in the summer when he gets over heated so fast any way?i have also been desperate for help, living with aspergers or adhd is hard enough with out doing it with very little sleep. my son who is nearly 8 is a terrible sleeper and waking me on average 4 times a night, i was told about weighted blankets and i was not too keen on spending a £100 to buy a blanket that may be wont work, so the ot told us to try lots of blankets firmly tucked in and it is helping, it has not stopped the night mares, or night terrors but he does not get out of bed so often although does cry out for me, and i still some times have to lie with him for a while, so mayb i wil buy one, now in the winter lots of blankets are ok but not so much fun in the summer when he gets over heated so fast any way?i have also been desperate for help, living with aspergers or adhd is hard enough with out doing it with very little sleep.

]]> Night terrors and anxiety in a child with Aspergers http://parentingaspergers.com/blog/night-terrors-and-anxiety-in-a-child-with-aspergers/comment-page-1#comment-4815 Kim Wed, 26 Nov 2008 07:17:30 +0000 http://parentingaspergers.com/blog/?p=147#comment-4815 My youngest son is nearly 7 and we are still having problems with him settling into bed.It started when he was 2 and wouldn't go to sleep unless I layed beside him or on the spare bed. Occassionly he is so tired he falls asleep as long as I pinky swear I am going to come in later but its so tiring every night going through the samed thing. The funny thing is his older brother is the one with asperges and he has never had a problem at night. I'v tried everything. Anyone got any suggestions? My youngest son is nearly 7 and we are still having problems with him settling into bed.It started when he was 2 and wouldn’t go to sleep unless I layed beside him or on the spare bed. Occassionly he is so tired he falls asleep as long as I pinky swear I am going to come in later but its so tiring every night going through the samed thing. The funny thing is his older brother is the one with asperges and he has never had a problem at night. I’v tried everything. Anyone got any suggestions?

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