This is a really tough one. My child used to do that occasionally, I can’t imagine what it’s like all day. Has he been under stimulated for a while? His tensing up might be a need for pressure. You first can try hugging him tightly for a couple minutes, and see if that seems to help. My son used to really like that. If it seems to help in any way, try getting a big weighted blanket. They aren’t cheap, but I’m assuming whatever helps will be worth it at this point. They also make these compression hammock things for kids, I can’t remember exactly what they’re called. It sounds like some sort of energy build up. You might want to try a small indoor trampoline (they make one for kids with a bar on it for safety). Please message me back if any of this sounds good, or if you have another thought on why it’s happening.

Wow, I’m glad this site stretches so far. I’m in the states. I’m blessed to have a son with mild to moderate autism, because I understand that it’s a true struggle to find a person that knows how to handle moderate to severe autism. I’ll pray for you to be able to locate someone who can truly help.

Thanks for that, it is so difficult to see the right specialists here in the Uk we are exploring every avenue but no one here seems to know the right person to speak to. We just want our little boy back.

I’m so sorry to hear that. Maybe it would help if you try to add more specific activities to his day. Does he like coloring or painting? Could you blow up a balloon and hit it back and forth to each other? That’s a favorite for my son. If it’s still warm enough where you are, you might be able to take a long walk. You could even look online to see if there are any special needs events within a decent driving distance. Or call a special needs school and see if there is anything he could sign up for where he could be around kids like him. Like I said, I can’t imagine what it must be like right now. I would prescribe wine or liquor j/k. Hang in there and keep trying things. If nothing is working, maybe you should talk to his doctor about an anti anxiety medication. I know we hate medicating our kids, but I think this is too severe to just have him take a vitamin or melatonin.

Hi. Thank you for that.

We have tried the weighted blankets/trampolines etc but nothing seems to work.

In August we went to Florida for a few weeks (we are from the UK) and he was completed fine.

It’s interesting that you say about being under stimulated as prior to about 4 weeks ago he was in a totally docile state for months. For around 5 months he just seemed to sit and be in his own world, caused no problems at all but that was also bizarre. A couple
More of his teeth have come out over the last couple of weeks and we wondered if it was that.

He will screech for 12-14 hours straight and go rigid and has even now resorted to waking up in the night to do it for 2 hours!