Self-Injurious Behaviors - Autism Spectrum Message Board

elizabeth37 · 03-01-2008, 03:18 PM

I was wondering if anyone has a child that has self-injurious behaviors. If so, could you give me some ideas on how to handle the situation. I am fresh out. My daughter is 11 years old and started these behaviors after puberty set in. I do the deep pressure and use the massagers on her arms and back for pressure. We bought a hot tub so that we could use the warm water and theuraputic jets as therapy. All of these things have worked to an extent but need more ideas. Help!!!

blessedmom · 03-09-2008, 05:47 PM

What type of self-injurious behaviors do she have. Sometimes my daughter will pull her hair and I know it hurts but she still does it. Sometimes she will scratch herself and pull on her private area. At first we thought it was she had to go to the bathroom but I know now that when she get upset that is the first thing she will do is grab her privates and cry and scream. The only thing I can do is just stroke her face. Sometimes she will let me do it and sometimes she won't. It seems if I get a tissue and act as if I am wiping her face it will stop quicker than if I do it with my hand. This really is a learn as you go situation. If anybody else out there have suggestions please feel free to share. In the meantime, keep the faith. We are going to make it with the help of the Lord. Bless You, Angela

elizabeth37 · 03-15-2008, 12:22 PM

My daughter slaps the side of her head and the side of her face. It didn't start until puberty. It began with pinching herself and she stopped that and started slapping herself. It is a very difficult situation to deal with. Faith and prayer is what helps you get through each day.

KathleenW · 03-16-2008, 06:01 AM

DMG is what stopped my son from face slapping. He started when he was 18 months old. It used to make my blood run cold when he did that. He started ABA, speech therapy, and taking the supplements B6, magnesium & DMG all of a sudden the face slapping stopped.

I thought it was because he was learning to talk and he was less frustrated. Then GNC stopped selling DMG so I continued everything else, but the DMG. The face slapping started back up again and I could not figure out why it started.

Then after about 2 months It came to me. Maybe when I stopped the DMG that is why he started slapping his face. I ordered DMG on line and within a week of taking it again, the face slapping was completely gone. My son is 7 now. We still take DMG every day. I hope it works for you.