First of all, please forgive me if this is lengthy. I could really use your help. We are a military family and my husband deploys frequently. Since my husband has left, my son has had lots of meltdowns and it goes on like that all day. Today seems to be a good day so far but yesterday was just awful. Nothing was helping him. I tried to get him to take a nap but to no avail he didn't take one. I know having a consistent schedule for them helps and we try to follow that. But we are in a unique situation because things aren't always the same since we are a Military family. We move frequently and dh leaves frequently. I am just looking for advice, help, suggestions to help him during these difficult times.
He hasn't been sleeping either. Someone here suggested giving him melatonin and after Okaying it with his doctor, I started giving it to him yesterday. He may sleep for a couple of hours but then he is up again. It's wrecking havoc on my sleep schedule. I am always exhausted and can only get through the day with tons of Diet Pepsi. If something doesn't turn around soon, I may end up in a mental ward.
(((HUGS)))
Hmmmm. What soothes him? Abby needs her "cool-out" spot when she gets into what we call "Full-Tilt Boogie," if I can get her into her pop-up tent with her blanket it really helps. I keep a tent in the back of my car incase we need it when we are out. LOL Also, her therapists started working with her to take deep breathes and that has been a tremendous help. It seems so obvious, but we had never tried that before. If he is into counting, pick the number of breaths he needs to take and even the counting part of it might help him. It may take several rounds of deep breathing, but it does eventually work for Abby.
Also, I just have to let her lose it sometimes. I know it sounds awful, but as long as she is not engaging in self-injury, I just let her go. It is very hard on my nerves and everyone else's within a ten mile radius, but for her, even the slightest bit of attention from me can be enough reinforcement for her to go on and on.
And sleeping....ugh, that is so hard. We struggled with that until we got started on the vitamin regime. It is so difficult. I am sorry for you. What is y'all's routine at bedtime?
(((HUGS)))
Hmmmm. What soothes him? Abby needs her "cool-out" spot when she gets into what we call "Full-Tilt Boogie," if I can get her into her pop-up tent with her blanket it really helps. I keep a tent in the back of my car incase we need it when we are out. LOL Also, her therapists started working with her to take deep breathes and that has been a tremendous help. It seems so obvious, but we had never tried that before. If he is into counting, pick the number of breaths he needs to take and even the counting part of it might help him. It may take several rounds of deep breathing, but it does eventually work for Abby.
Also, I just have to let her lose it sometimes. I know it sounds awful, but as long as she is not engaging in self-injury, I just let her go. It is very hard on my nerves and everyone else's within a ten mile radius, but for her, even the slightest bit of attention from me can be enough reinforcement for her to go on and on.
And sleeping....ugh, that is so hard. We struggled with that until we got started on the vitamin regime. It is so difficult. I am sorry for you. What is y'all's routine at bedtime?
I have noticed with my son that when I discipline (i.e. timeout) he goes into a full tailspin of screaming, crying, stomping...asking stuff like, "Why does sissy not go in timeout?" I try my hardest to ignore it but if I don't sit right next time he will go of the timeout chair and it will start all over. His room seems to be his safe refuge but he comes out of his room asking if he can come out so it sort of defeat the purpose of timeout/regrouping. Any ideas of what I can do in these instances? I was told some autistic kids act like they are controlled by a motor that never stops. My son is like that.
As for his bedtime routine, he gets a shower so we aren't rushed in the morning before school, then we get him some juice, brush teeth, read a store, tuck him in with his favorite blanket and he is off to snoozeland. Most of the time he is up a few hours later though. Though the melatonin seems to be helping some. I stay up after he goes to bed to get time to myself but then I am exhausted the next day. I could go to bed when he does but then I don't get time to do the things I need to do. I really don't know what to do.
Okay for the meltdowns, you might try weighted blankets.
As for the melatonin, yes it does work, but you may need to add a few things to get it to work better for you.
What I would do is this:
1. Add some 1/4-1/2 cup of Epsom Salts to a tub full of very warm bath water.
2. Right before bedtme give him a dose of digestive enzymes along with a small glass of milk and something to eat (like oatmeal, cookies, or cupcake).
I do this for my kids (except the Melatonin is Valerian Root Extract and not Melatonin), and they sleep so good that I have to wake them up in time to get ready for school.
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Angela
Mom to Brendan (PDD/NOS, ADHD and Anxiety) and Callie (ADHD and ODD)
Okay for the meltdowns, you might try weighted blankets.
As for the melatonin, yes it does work, but you may need to add a few things to get it to work better for you.
What I would do is this:
1. Add some 1/4-1/2 cup of Epsom Salts to a tub full of very warm bath water.
2. Right before bedtme give him a dose of digestive enzymes along with a small glass of milk and something to eat (like oatmeal, cookies, or cupcake).
I do this for my kids (except the Melatonin is Valerian Root Extract and not Melatonin), and they sleep so good that I have to wake them up in time to get ready for school.
Okay, since I don't know, how does a weighted blanket help them? I have heard of them but I honestly have no idea what it does for them.
I will get some Epsom salts tomorrow at the store. What does the digestive enzymes do? I am willing to try anything at this point, even if you were to suggest feeding him dirt. I am just so frustrated.
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