kind of a weird problem... advice needed

[sl_underwood]

My son dx ASD, SID, PTSD, RAD has started ripping off his toe nails and I have no clue why he does this or how to stop it. He rips them down past the quick, leaving a bloody mess then cries for hours in pain. Any ideas why he might be doing this or how to get him to stop? Also, how would you deal with the aftermath?
Thanks

 

[alizesmom]

No good advice but want to send hugs and prayers for your son and you. Karen

 

[sl_underwood]

Thanks, I think this is one of these issues that is fairly uncommon. I honestly cant figure it out. I have charted his behavior and it doesnt seem like there is any pattern to when it happens. So far it has happened three times, once while he was watching mickey mouse clubhouse, once while he was listening to a book on tape, and the other time he was getting dressed. I keep his toe nails clipped so I know he isnt snagging them on anything. I just cant figure out why he continues to pick at them. It has to hurt. It just doesnt make any sense.

 

[bookwormde]

Obviosly the first thing to do (and I am sure that you allready have) is to consult your clinical team.


So you know where I am "comming from" I am a 50yo subclinical aspie dd from a long line of aspies. As I state to new poeple which I meet at support groups, I would have been very dissapointed if at least one of my children had not been and aspie. I was fortunate to have a 8yo ds who is clinical. I also have a 4yo ds who is more to the neurotypical side of the world and a neurotypical dw.

As you might summize my perseption of Aspergers is quite different from neurotypicals

You did not indicate where your son was on the autism spectum so that makes it more difficult to hazard a guess.
I assume he is the ds4. My first guess would be that it is anxiety based. It is my experiance that repetitive behaviors are typically a defense (through hyperfocus) to the stress of lacking inate social skills and being exposed to "social situations" (typically outside the core family group) for which they have not been provided intellectual social skills information and practice. There are also other factors which are sometimes involved in the neurovariant Aspergers (the part of the spectrum which I am most farmiliar with). Sensation (pain) perception and thresholds can be significanlty different from neurotypicals. Anxiety may also be generated by a mirade of other enviromental stimulus and can be very severe (imagine somone scraping their fingernails across a black bord for and extended period of time) you would litteraly be ready to tear your hair out.

bookworm

sorry for the spelling I have not loaded the spell checker

 

[robin09]

My son dx ASD, SID, PTSD, RAD has started ripping off his toe nails and I have no clue why he does this or how to stop it. He rips them down past the quick, leaving a bloody mess then cries for hours in pain. Any ideas why he might be doing this or how to get him to stop? Also, how would you deal with the aftermath?
Thanks

First off Hugs to you and your son DD9 has aspergers, ocd, adhd, sensory problems and reactions to color dye. I feel for you. DD rips and BITES at her toes and fingernails, cuticles, anything that is hanging from her fingers. When she has no fingernails or toenails left, she starts on the skin. I constantly have to redirect her and her attention. It seems to happen more when she gets stressed. She has to put bandaids on it all, but within a half hour always needs a new one on.

Constant awareness and tune in to his day and feelings. As long as I keep her as stressfree as possible does help. Keeping her fingers buys on her Nintendo DS or her computer cuts down the ripping at nails. I wish I had more help, but please know you are not alone!

 

[mechurchlady]

For me I was a nail biter for over 40 years. When I setting and not really doing anything or concentrating on something I pick at the callous on my heel or at a toe or finger nail. It is like something to keep me busy it is bugging me. I have taken out skin tags and those excess protein spots. When I am picking at thing I go for the heel as it needs to be sanded down and the picking is nto dangerous. A nervous habit like tapping a pencil and from experience I have torn a nail which does not tear up and away from the quick. It is not intentional but just that I tore off the nail and hit quick.

 

[sl_underwood]

First off Hugs to you and your son DD9 has aspergers, ocd, adhd, sensory problems and reactions to color dye. I feel for you. DD rips and BITES at her toes and fingernails, cuticles, anything that is hanging from her fingers. When she has no fingernails or toenails left, she starts on the skin. I constantly have to redirect her and her attention. It seems to happen more when she gets stressed. She has to put bandaids on it all, but within a half hour always needs a new one on.

Constant awareness and tune in to his day and feelings. As long as I keep her as stressfree as possible does help. Keeping her fingers buys on her Nintendo DS or her computer cuts down the ripping at nails. I wish I had more help, but please know you are not alone!

Thanks. Your dd sounds alot like my ds. Redirection works, if I catch him in time. He just got a leapster yesterday for his birthday, so maybe that will help. So far, its saved me from an exhausting grocery store meltdown and a car meltdown. I am starting to think this is the best toy ever invented!