Hitting self a sign of autism?

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I've never heard of this until today when an article in the news sectioned mentioned a dog helped an autistic boy from hitting himself. for the past feel months i've noticed when i'm upset i'll unconscious hit myself on the head or forehead, and when i'm laughing too. It just happens, i don't know why, but I don't remember it happening before a few months ago, except if i had an extreme meltdown in my younger teens. when i'm excited it can happen too.

so, i'm thinking this is a sign of Autism. anyone else do this???

I've never done it but I know it can be a sign of autism, especially in young children. That's why some children who have autism have to be kept in helmets (I've seen this)-- so they don't hurt themselves. Though a child hitting themselves can be the result of something else (abuse, violence in the home, etc.)

Interesting indeed, but I doubt it. I had a boyfriend who I don't think was autistic, who used to do this when he was upset (specifically when he was upset at me), but I think it was more a cry for attention, knowing him.

I'm not saying that you or everyone hits themselves for attention, just that I don't think the act of hitting yourself is necessarily indicative of autism.

I don't do it for attention. I don't even realize I'm doing it, and I don't just do it when people are around. I'd actually reall like it to stops.

I have done it when I am extremely frustrated...but not for attention.

I don't do this but my severely autistic son does it a lot, usually when upset or angry.

am adult and also wear a helmet for self injury [attacking head with something,or through head banging],theyre not perfect as it's still quite easy to get concussion through them.

self injury in this way is very common across the spectrum,often due to our limited communication and interaction,fight or flight response,sensory seeking,self distraction,the bodies learned way of taking it out on self and not something else,meltdowns etc.


Tragedyanne mentions someone who possibly did it for attention,am also know someone like that,is not autie/aspie but has epilepsy and learning difficulties,she will stand there and have a fight with herself in the face if staff didn't give her any attention [it was either that or another extreme,fake seizures].

I've hit and slapped myself but only when deeply depressed and frustrated.

Also have a history of self harm.

The feelings that invoke these actions are hard to explain because they're very intense and overwhelming like there's no way out.

I understand. I did the same thing for a big part of my life, from as early as I can remember. I don't do it much anymore, thank goodness. I just haven't felt the kind of frustration I felt all those years lately, thank goodness.

It's a common thing for people with an ASD to do, especially during "meltdowns".

I punch trees/poles, and I also bang my head against stuff; usually when I'm overwhelmed.

I didn't realize that I, too, tend to hit myself until my fiance pointed it out to me.

Whever I am stressed or frustrated, I will slap my head, sometimes repeatedly. Or I might bang my head onto the table or a wall. Not enough to cause any lasting injury, though.

He always gets very worried when I do this.

It's not exclusive to ASD, but yes it's a big sign of it, especially with young kids. My severely autistic son hits himself in the head whenever he gets upset/frustrated, and my PDD-NOS son will headbang if he gets , really, really upset. I have also done both several times in my life, but not frequently.

I tend to squeeze myself. Like I will put a hand on either side of my head and press as hard as I can or I will scratch myself. I think it's more for the sensation of pressure and the weird sensation my nails cause. I also sometimes do it with the edge of a credit card... That feeling. I don't know what that means but I figure it gives people another statistic. I do most these things when I am frustrated.

I often hit my right knee, though, it's always in response to a weird feeling there. When I do, it's right below the kneecap, hit with the edge of my hand, and it feels like my kneecap is moving around weird. Hard to describe any other way. (Almost feels like the kneecap is moving in, interfering with the movement of my knee, but it's not really doing that. Striking that spot typically solves the problem at least temporarily.)

I usually slap my face of punch my head when I'm frustrated, angry or upset, only when alone though. For me it's the only way to release extreme anger, and I have a very short fuse too.

I've used myself as a punching bag quite a few times during moments of severe meltdowns; but I don't seem to have those kinds of meltdowns as much these days, or at least I'm handling them better now.