stranger anxiety

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Registered: 03-31-2003
stranger anxiety
2
Thu, 03-16-2006 - 6:50pm

We had a bit of an "autistic moment" at the shopping center. David panics in public places if his little brother, Nathan, gets more than an arm's length away. I try to explain that Nathan is 4.5, and far too mature to go running off. We were in Starbucks, and, as usual, David started freaking out every time Nathan moved an inch.

We got through that without any major problems. Then, later, as we were walking, Nathan got about ten feet ahead of us, and a rather large person walked between him and David's line of sight. OMG!! David started screaming. He ran to Nathan and tackled him to the ground, screeching, "You have to stay close to us!!!" We were right outside the shoe store, and the guy who works there was watching us. We buy shoes there sometimes, and David has embarrassed us several times in there. It's not as embarrassing now that I know he has AS; even if he looks like a child who needs a swat on the behind, at least I know it isn't true.

The thing about Nathan getting out of arm's reach used to be REALLY bad, but it had gotten better. As I write this, I realize what the problem might be. In our community, which is relatively safe, there was some guy who tried to lure some kids into his car a couple weeks ago. The local papers and schools have made SUCH a big deal about it. For an entire week, they were going on and on and on about stranger danger. Sure, I want my kids to be safe, and it's important to teach them basic safety rules. But they've made such a huge production about it, that I wouldn't be surprised if that's contributing to or causing David's heightened anxiety. I think I'll have to have a chat with him--if there is ever a time when he's in a receptive state of mind.

On another note, the boys both did reasonably well at the dentist today. I told the dentist about David's AS, and he told me that his daughter is a special ed teacher in a local school for ASD kids. I noticed a brochure on the counter, and meant to pick one up, but with my two boys it's a wonder I don't forget my head when I go from place to place. In fact, sometimes I do.

Evelyn
David 8, AS
Nathan, 4.5

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Registered: 08-26-2005
Thu, 03-16-2006 - 7:46pm
Evelyn,
I'm going through a horrible seperation anxiety phase with Ella who has major sensory issues. I can't even put her in the car first because she freaks out and starts calling for Jake. She gets really upset if we are in a new place and any of us are out of her sight. I've never experienced this with Jake(pdd-nos)in fact he was the opposite(LOL)
Teresa
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Registered: 03-31-2003
Thu, 03-16-2006 - 8:23pm

All I can say is thank goodness for gas pumps that take ATM/credit cards, or I wouldn't have been able to buy gas EVER when David was younger (or now, some days). Also, if we were going somewhere and he got in the car (which is in our garage), I couldn't run inside to get the keys off the table without him having a major panic attack.