9 year old slapping his face,how do I make him stop...??

[dianam123]

My son 9 year old (not medicated) ADHD,ADD,anxiety, started slapping his face ,(not angry when slapping.)

I constantly tell him to stop but replies with I have too...

Dont know where that came from..

Is that a new thing ??

[Onthemove1971]

Dianam13-

This like many other odd behaviors happen with our kids. I would try to predict when it is going to happen and then distract him with something he can hold in his hands ( fidget spinner, Rubix. cube, counter) not sure if this is from stress, behavior.. etc, but I always try to change the negative behavior into something else without discussing it with our son. That way I am not making a big deal out of it. I am hopeful this to will pass, until there is something else.

Best of luck.

[dianam123 in reply to Onthemove1971]

Will do,Thanks !!!

[Pennywink]

Though unusual, this actually sounds more like a tic to me. I would consider bringing it up to the pediatrician, along with another other odd behaviors you have noticed over the years (my son started with grunting, then lip licking, followed by finger flicking and finger sniffing along with humming. Now he has teeth grinding and sometimes siren noises. Just to give you some examples of things that may be tic-like behaviors.)

If it is a tic, it will probably need to be handled differently than more voluntary behaviors.

[dianam123 in reply to Pennywink]

He has a couple tics, I guess I will add that to list.

Thanks!!

[Pennywink in reply to dianam123]

You’re welcome! If it’s a tic, telling him to stop may just make him more stressed / make it worse. Though if it is bothering him / disrupting his life, the non-stimulant ADHD drugs are actually the first choice for helping tic disorders, and actually can work really well in conjunction with the stimulants to help both conditions.

[Elijah1]

If it is a tic, CBIT (cognitive behavioral intervention for tics), also called habit reversal therapy, is a non-medication treatment with proven effect. If desired, ask pediatrician for a referral to a therapist/psychologist who teaches this intervention.

[LetYourVoiceBHeard]

Have you asked him why he is doing this to himself? I find I have to try rephrase things constantly in order to get to answers. It can be a real challenge for me trying to get to the bottom of things. My 5 year old has problems connecting things. Really don't understand consequences, problem solving or actions period. We have not gotten to connecting dots. it has been tough. Seems like others have given you some good advice and I will be taken some of that away myself. I hope things get easier for you both. I am always trying to look outside the box to find answers. ((XX))