My Son Said the Barbie Doll Was Talkin to Him and Flipped out...ANY IDEAS?

My daughter had hallucinations after using a medication. he saw jumping soiders all over her bedroom.
I stopped the medication and let her sleep in the living room.
If any of the medication is new or has recently increased, I would stop it(if new, and go back to old meds) or decrease it if it was recently increased, just until you can reach the doctor. Or you can always just keep the cereal out of view, but if it is medication related he may just have different hallucinations. Good luck.
P.S. Never stop a long standing perscription without medical advise.

Carrie

I have never had that experience but, I would definitely call his Dr. It could be a problem with his medicine.

Research child onset schizophrenia and search for a doctor in your area who knows about it.

C., continue to reach to others for support. With your three and your neighbor's two, you obviously know how to help others...let some help you!

Best wishes!

I would definitely get him into a doctor. Medications can cause hallucinations so thats not really uncommon. I worked with people with Schizophrenia and that popped into my head when you mentioned him hearing and seeing the doll talking to him, but rest assured, Schizophrenia usually doesnt get diagnosed until late teens and sometimes early 20's on into adulthood.
For now, try to provide as much support as possible. It must be very scary for him and he needs you right now. Dont make him feel like you dont believe him or that he is being silly, it will probably make matters worse. Let him know he can talk to you about it and that you are there for him.
--S.

it could be the medication he is on or he may be developing a mental illness. I would for sure take this serious and get a dr involved and if he brushes it off then seek another professional opinion. this could be serious or something simply explained.
Good luck....

I worked in Child Psychiatry for 10 years and something is definitely going on with your son. Like the other mom said, be sure to validate what he is saying because he is definitely scared by what he's going through. Tell him you'll get him help. He needs to know that you'll do whatever it takes to help him. He could be having early schizophrenia signs (usually this mental illness doesn't show until around 18), could be problem with the meds he's already taking, and just to throw this out there...when my son was 8 or 9 (now 14) he heard voices telling him to jump off balconies and high places. He got scared that he would actually do it. Working in Psychiatry, I thought for sure he had schizophrenia because of hearing the voices, but it turns out he was severely anxious and the anxiety just took over and it wasn't actually an actual "voice" he was hearing that told him to do this but just kind of his mind telling him to do it. Anyway, he was put on Prozac and it was the best thing we ever did.

Do any family members have mental illness? This is a good indicator. Please do let us all know how things go.

I would look up his meds and see what the side effects are. My grandmother and friend has heard voices from medicines they were taking and as soon as they stopped the meds they voices stopped. Which I know this might not be that easy with your sons meds. If he has been on these meds for a good while it might have to do with being on them so long or nothing at all with the meds and something new? Sorry I know this probably wasn't any help, I hope the doctor can give you a better answer.

I would definitely check on what effect his meds may be having. Besides asking a doctor, I would ask a pharmacist, maybe even a pharmacologist.

C., I'm a 38 year old mom that has CPS (Complex Partial Epilepsy) and hearing voices is normal for having Epilepsy. What is a little different is him remembering it. Just make sure that you follow up with his doctor as he may not be on the correct meds. M.

Could it be a side effect of the meds or of the meds combined? Check with your doctor or pharmacy.

Good luck,
D.

I think a doctor's call might be in order. Just to be safe.

My daughter is 9 with no conditions or medication, and told me that in the middle of the night her drapes come open on their own.
I only believed her when after I tucked her in and checked on her a 1/2 hour later, her drapes were wide open.
Maybe something attached to her, who knows.
At least you have the meds as the best possible source for hallucinations.
If the doctor tells you that it is not a side effect of his medication, then I would suggest and Old Priest and a young Priest.
Good Luck

It may be a side effect of one of the medicines he's on...I'd look into that. I am glad you contacted the dr...please update and let us know what it is...

Well, first I would want to know if his meds have changed recently, that could be a problem and you would want to notify your dr asap. As far as hallucinations go, don't want to sound negative, but, when you are talking about the other diagnosis' that your son has, it is likely that he could develop other things. It was 10 when my son started see and hearing commanding voices and we had to have him evaluated---the closer they get to puberty the more you will see new stuff if there is something else going on. Just get a second opinion because so many dr's want to over medicate!

I would be interested to know whether that has ever happened to him before, asking him would be a good idea, and having a serious discussion would maybe help him feel validated. I couldn't imagine how scary it would be to hear voices, knowing it's not a normal thing.
Anyway,perhaps this isn't the first time, but maybe it's the first time that it scared him.
I agree that it could be a medication thing, I also would be interested to know the outcome.

That is scary!I have a ten year old and I couldn't imagine him that upset.First of all I would definately get him to a sychatrist(sure that's spelled wrong)and do some of your own research.I don't remember what the website was called but I found one that you put in all of your symptoms down and they give you possible causes.I search mostly on yahoo and sometimes ask.com.The one thing that I know for sure that can cause hallucinations and ODD as well is Bi Polar disorder.I know several people that have it as well as my best friend.You might look it up on the internet and if it sounds like something he might have mention it to his doctor.Also I think this has been mentioned to you but ask the doctor if this could be a reaction to his medicine.I would think if he's been on the meds for a while I would think it's not the meds.
In the meantime be very comforting to him and understanding.In his mind what happend to him was real.

C.,
I've haven't ever had that problem with my son or my three grandchildren.
I think your best answer is to talk to his doctor about his meds. They could be working against each other or the dosage might need to be adjusted.
Or he could be acting out when he is in trouble to get out of the punishment. That might explain his actions during his wakeing hours.
But, the barbie thing, did it happen when he was asleep or awake? I think that is a matter to talk to the doctor about.
I truely wish I had the answer for you. Please seek help from your doctor for him.
J.

I'd take him in for a check up,

Hi again C., I'm honestly not sure about this situation. You did the right thing by calling his doctor. Does his background have any family history of any mental illness? Not saying that this situation is for sure that, but that's the first thing that came to my mind. Your poor little guy was I'm sure freaked out with the situation too. Maybe today take him aside when it's just you and him and talk about what happen. Maybe explain to him that you thought he was joking becuase of the way he likes to tease with you. Maybe he can give you more info on what happen last night. Hang in there. I know this parenting thing is SOOO hard sometimes! You have my email, so keep in touch. Big hugs to you!

Definately get him evaluated since he is on meds .Often medicines can cause hallucinatory side effects, suicidal thoughts, etc. Be safe and get him checked.

Also, considering the hilarity exhibited by his siblings, you may want to keep in mind that perhaps this was instigated in someway by one of them. (My brother teased me that my legless doll was going to walk down the stairs to my bedroom at night and I SWEAR I heard it once..*I was about 4 or 5*) Suggestion can cause serious problems if kids have ANY imagination at all.

Thirdly, I don't know what your belief systems include, but it's possible he did hear a voice. I have several Aunts who are clairaudient.

I would definately do the medically provable evaluations first, since side effects of medicines can be so dangerous.

i wish you luck and god bless

im a 34 yr old father my daughter use to tell us that her imagenation told her to do it personally i think its a phase because my daughter doesn't do it any more you could get some G.I JOE'S or something cool and exciting for him and get girl barbies and get in the floor real close to each other and play together showing him their mouths dont move ,,,, and if he says theyare have him show you,,,, but i would shut everything off in the house so he can look at it and not here anything but your and his voice.... hope this helps good luck

We always have to consider the fact of siblings finding humor in situations. ??? Sometimes they don't want to fess up for fear of getting in real trouble. I don't put anything past kids.

Could be meds. Glad your checking it out.