One of the things that drive me crazy with Gavin his how he handles pain. Gavin will beat himself (literally) and not complain but then pitch a fit over the tiniest injury. For example yesterday he came down stairs freaking out because "I bumped my thumb on my action figures head". He wasn't hurt but was freaking out. If he thinks he hurt himself, say his finger for example, he will squeeze his fingure until it's bruised in an attempt to make it bleed. Then when it eventually bleeds or just bruises he meltsdown. I just don't get it.
Today alone I have lost track of all the "injuries" he came to show me. The biggest problem aside from annoyance it the example being set. Now Elliott is doing similar things because that's what he sees Gavin do.
So where is he coming from on this? Is it a sensory thing, manipulation or hypochondria. I thinks its a lot of all three. It is exhausting and annoying to deal with this all the time. It's one hing if he's actually hurt but most of the time he isn't. Don't get me started on being sick cause that's even more confusing. We never know when he's actually sick or faking. Autism truly does complicate everything...
UPDATE:
Julia posted a really good response to this in the comments.
"Hi, often the way children with asd process pain is a sensory thing. Pain from minor injuries such as superficial cuts activates more nerves and travels a certain way to the brain while heavy knocks, bumps and falls travels up a different way using the same track as deep pressure (things like hugs, massage etc.) children who are already sensitive to touch (tactile defensive) also often have even more sensitive superficial pain receptors. Hope this makes sense!"
