Aniexty disorder its a comfort thing my daughter chews on the strings of her sweater jackets I used to suck my thumb till I was 17 in front of my family because I hated my grandma bringing it up but My husband says he'll wake up and see that I'm sucking my thumb but he doesn't tell me all the time He says he doesn't mind it he says it means I feel comfortable around him to do that subconciously.
Lisa
I can not get mine to stop so I have no ideas. I mean honestly the more I push he stop the more he does it. My son ruins a coat every year doing this which really sucks since other than the chew spots it is in good shape and he grows so slow coats last two years atleast but we have to buy one a year if not two and that doesn't include the shirts.....I think chewing pens is kind of acceptable behavior. The nine year old who doesn't care what her peers say may do well with a NeuroPsych evaluation. By her age (I have a nine year old) kids usually care a lot what their peers say to them, and I'd want to see if there is a reason she seems not to (unless they DON'T pick on her). To be honest, my girlfriend's daughter sucked her thumb well into her teens and, in her case, she's a normal 21 year old, in college, nice boyfriend, just attached to her thumb and kids about it. I don't think this is the rule, but wanted to tell you about it. When kids would ask her about the thumbsucking she'd hold out her thumb and say, "It's good. Want a taste?" She always had tons of friends, but she's obviously well adjusted with just this one quirk. It'd look more closely if you see more. Good luck. OlderMom38771.2908796296I THOUGHT SUCKING ON CLOTHING AND BLANKETS WAS JUST SOMETHING MY LITTLE BOY DID. HE HAS HOLES IN MOST OF HIS SHIRTS. DOES ANYONE HAVE A SUGGESTION ON HOW TO PREVENT HIM FROM DOING THIS?
THANKS, BECKY DOVER
CLARKESVILLE,GA.
Put vinegar or something that tastes bad on the area where he chews. I used to ask my son to stop whenever he was chewing, as he did not realize when he was doing it.My son went through a faze of sucking on his coat collar, when he was outside. He also chews pens and pencils. I agree that it could be a coping mechanism to help them focus more, as well as a habit. I just ignored it, and watched to see how long it went on. I think it lasted a year with the coat thing. I guess I would try something else to stop it if things were always being ruined.My 15yo chews pens and he did have sensory issues. Sometimes I think it is a way for him to focus some of his movement. This year he is able to chew gum in his classes and that helps alot. I'm also ADHD and I remember chewing pens during school and when I worked. I'm also a big gum chewer. It's kind of like tapping your fingers or foot to help you focus. It's an outlet. Just getting teachers to understand this is a big issue. Just my thoughts.
If a child is old enough to know that other kids consider it odd, I'd find it more alarming. Kids, even with sensory issues (such as my son) will do it at home, but never at school because he is socially aware enough to know it can result in teasing or the kids going, "Gross! You're gross." It really depends on when the kid does it--if it is in his "safe" place or in front of people. Oblivion to what peers think can mean high functioning autism and should be checked by a NeuroPsych just to be safe and check everything out. Acting inappropriate out of doors, in front of peers, at an older age is usually a red flag for bigger problems. A five year old, big deal. A twelve year old, it IS a big deal.My daughter is 8, will be 9 in July, and still sucks her thumb. It's very upsetting to me and her teachers. I was hoping that peer pressure in school would help her stop, but it hasn't and she could care less about the other kids in her class. I am at a total loss of what to do. The disorder is Aniexty disorder look on line about it. my Grandma still sucks on her pinky and I think she has my mom I know has it and I think my daughter have it heck I might have it.
Pulling hair out is in the same disorder and twisting and chewing hair. My brother has just been telling me about this strangely enough. My brother will pull his eyebrow hair out or a strand of hair at a time from his head or the whiskers on his chin. He does it when he's depressed or worrying over something. Sometimes he says its a habit.
I cant remember what he said the disorder was though.
My daughter sucked her thumb all the time until kindergarten, and still does it at night (she's almost 9). I think it's comforting to her. I still chew on pens and pencils. It's a nervous habit for me. steppingstone38771.8818981481[QUOTE=bdover]I THOUGHT SUCKING ON CLOTHING AND BLANKETS WAS JUST SOMETHING MY LITTLE BOY DID. HE HAS HOLES IN MOST OF HIS SHIRTS. DOES ANYONE HAVE A SUGGESTION ON HOW TO PREVENT HIM FROM DOING THIS?
THANKS, BECKY DOVER
CLARKESVILLE,GA.
[/QUOTE]
Try attaching a rubber tubing onto one of those coiled necklaces or wristbands .. you know the ones .. people usually attach their keys on them? Or just use the coil necklace itself. It seems to work for a couple of kids in our class. I'm so sure you'll be able to prevent this behaviour but you may be able to replace the item he's chewing on that may seem a bit more appropriate and less damaging.
I chew on my hair, and on the insides of my cheeks. I remember chewing on clothing when I was a young girl.
Crawling exercises have helped me with the intensity. I don't chew my hair as badly at all, which is amazing to me because I have done this all my life.
I still twist it, but I don't chew on it as much. I still am chewing and biting on the insides of my cheeks.
I still have a long way to go to complete the exercises. So we will see if they keep helping me. PM me if you want to know about these exercises.
When I was diagnosed with ADD, I asked my doctor if the hair twisting and the chewing was part of my ADD. He told me that it was a different symdrome. I can't remember what he called it but he said it was related to but wasn't Touettes Symdrome.
Hope that helps.
My 12 year old still chews everything, mostly his zipper, but if he has a pen, or anything hard. He limits it at school but he drives me crazy at home doing it.I didnt realise that sucking and chewing on things was an issue I still chew on my pens, but not so much since I stopped smoking.
My four year old is always chewing on her the little figurines she collcts and sucks on the flannel in the bath.
I always chewed things when I was concentrating or bored.