re: bipolar/explosive child
frozenandcold
I don't feel like I have much advice to give because we are having
major struggles right now with our son too. He has never been
diagnosed but I am sure there is one out there for him. My husband
feels very strongly about not giving him a label but rather trying
to feel our way through it. I am to the point where I want more
information about how his little brain works because I feel like we
are going in the wrong direction at times. He is VERY explosive,
and I don't know if this helps you at all, but we have figured out
that when he gets to that point and we have to remove him from
everyone that he needs about ten minutes to cool off without ANYONE
around. After that ten minutes he almost forgets that there was
anything wrong. The trick though is that absolutely no one can be
around him when he is exploding. In the past, we have tried to
console him, or get angry at him when he is calling us names in the
middle of his rages. We have now learned to just walk away and let
him rage. Sometimes that goes against what radical unschoolers
suggest but that is the only thing that allows him to come off his
rage.
The other thing that we have come to realize is that there has to be
food available for him to grab at all times. If his blood sugar
gets even slightly low or he is hungry at all, there is probably a
rage right around the corner. Sleep is also HUGE for him, and it is
just not a matter of getting enough but when he gets it. If he is
not asleep by midnight, regardless of when he wakes up, the next day
is likely to be a difficult one.
He is also very sensitive to lots of noise! Last night we were at a
HUGE family gathering and I learned something new about him. He had
his PSP and was playing it in a corner by himself almost the entire
evening and the evening went as smooth as ever. So I guess if he is
focused on something when there is all of this noise and commotion
around him, he doesn't really notice it. So now the PSP is coming
everywhere with us!!!!!
Another thing that we have noticed that helps a lot is LOTS of hugs
and positive comments and compliments, during the day, about the
things that we love about him. It is so easy to get focused on the
rages because they spend so much of our energy but he needs to know
how wonderful he is!! And the great thing about him is that just as
intense as his rages are, so is the intensity of his love and
compassion for people!!!
Heidi
major struggles right now with our son too. He has never been
diagnosed but I am sure there is one out there for him. My husband
feels very strongly about not giving him a label but rather trying
to feel our way through it. I am to the point where I want more
information about how his little brain works because I feel like we
are going in the wrong direction at times. He is VERY explosive,
and I don't know if this helps you at all, but we have figured out
that when he gets to that point and we have to remove him from
everyone that he needs about ten minutes to cool off without ANYONE
around. After that ten minutes he almost forgets that there was
anything wrong. The trick though is that absolutely no one can be
around him when he is exploding. In the past, we have tried to
console him, or get angry at him when he is calling us names in the
middle of his rages. We have now learned to just walk away and let
him rage. Sometimes that goes against what radical unschoolers
suggest but that is the only thing that allows him to come off his
rage.
The other thing that we have come to realize is that there has to be
food available for him to grab at all times. If his blood sugar
gets even slightly low or he is hungry at all, there is probably a
rage right around the corner. Sleep is also HUGE for him, and it is
just not a matter of getting enough but when he gets it. If he is
not asleep by midnight, regardless of when he wakes up, the next day
is likely to be a difficult one.
He is also very sensitive to lots of noise! Last night we were at a
HUGE family gathering and I learned something new about him. He had
his PSP and was playing it in a corner by himself almost the entire
evening and the evening went as smooth as ever. So I guess if he is
focused on something when there is all of this noise and commotion
around him, he doesn't really notice it. So now the PSP is coming
everywhere with us!!!!!
Another thing that we have noticed that helps a lot is LOTS of hugs
and positive comments and compliments, during the day, about the
things that we love about him. It is so easy to get focused on the
rages because they spend so much of our energy but he needs to know
how wonderful he is!! And the great thing about him is that just as
intense as his rages are, so is the intensity of his love and
compassion for people!!!
Heidi
patricia tidmore
frozenandcold <fivefreebirds@...> wrote: I don't know if this helps you at all, but we have figured out
that when he gets to that point and we have to remove him from
everyone that he needs about ten minutes to cool off without ANYONE
around. Sometimes this will work with my big guy but more times than not it is like he is afraid when he rages and wants me close,even to the point of lying with him and holding him tightly. After that ten minutes he almost forgets that there was
anything wrong.Yes,I have noticed this sometimes too,like maybe he blacks out sometimes and doesn't remember the raging. The trick though is that a In the past, we have tried to
console him, or get angry at him when he is calling us names in the
middle of his rages.I am getting better at controling myself and not getting angry at him when this happens,to just be there for him and this helps him and me much more. We have now learned to just walk away and let
him rage.I have tried this but he will follow me screaming and cursing,or worse throw something at me,so I have to stay with him.But I do get my younger dh away. Sometimes that goes against what radical unschoolers
suggest but that is the only thing that allows him to come off his
rage.You have to do what is best for YOUR child and only you know what works and what doesn't.
The other thing that we have come to realize is that there has to be
food available for him to grab at all times. If his blood sugar
gets even slightly low or he is hungry at all, there is probably a
rage right around the corner. Ditto on this!If his blood sugar drops it's ON!! Sleep is also HUGE for him, and it is
just not a matter of getting enough but when he gets it. If he is
not asleep by midnight, regardless of when he wakes up, the next day
is likely to be a difficult one. We have to give him benadryll at night or he would stay up for 24 hrs straight or longer and would rage for days.He has never gone to sleep without something to help him since he was 2.Before that he never slept more than 2 hrs at a time.
He is also very sensitive to lots of noise! Last night we were at a
HUGE family gathering and I learned something new about him. He had
his PSP and was playing it in a corner by himself almost the entire
evening and the evening went as smooth as ever. So I guess if he is
focused on something when there is all of this noise and commotion
around him, he doesn't really notice it. So now the PSP is coming
everywhere with us!!!!!This is just the opposit of my guy,he would have been bouncing off the walls!Nothing would have calmed him.But if there had of been another child(couldn't have been 2 or more)he would have been fine!
Another thing that we have noticed that helps a lot is LOTS of hugs
and positive comments and compliments, during the day, about the
things that we love about him. Right on! Best therapy there is for mine too,nothing helps more. It is so easy to get focused on the
rages because they spend so much of our energy but he needs to know
how wonderful he is!! And the great thing about him is that just as
intense as his rages are, so is the intensity of his love and
compassion for people!!!This brought tears to my eyes,I came from a very abusive home growing up and have often said that Elijah was placed in my life to teach me real love and how to express it.He is the most loving human being I know,but then I know that you know exactly where I am coming from<smile>
Thanks you have helped me more than you know.
Tricia
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that when he gets to that point and we have to remove him from
everyone that he needs about ten minutes to cool off without ANYONE
around. Sometimes this will work with my big guy but more times than not it is like he is afraid when he rages and wants me close,even to the point of lying with him and holding him tightly. After that ten minutes he almost forgets that there was
anything wrong.Yes,I have noticed this sometimes too,like maybe he blacks out sometimes and doesn't remember the raging. The trick though is that a In the past, we have tried to
console him, or get angry at him when he is calling us names in the
middle of his rages.I am getting better at controling myself and not getting angry at him when this happens,to just be there for him and this helps him and me much more. We have now learned to just walk away and let
him rage.I have tried this but he will follow me screaming and cursing,or worse throw something at me,so I have to stay with him.But I do get my younger dh away. Sometimes that goes against what radical unschoolers
suggest but that is the only thing that allows him to come off his
rage.You have to do what is best for YOUR child and only you know what works and what doesn't.
The other thing that we have come to realize is that there has to be
food available for him to grab at all times. If his blood sugar
gets even slightly low or he is hungry at all, there is probably a
rage right around the corner. Ditto on this!If his blood sugar drops it's ON!! Sleep is also HUGE for him, and it is
just not a matter of getting enough but when he gets it. If he is
not asleep by midnight, regardless of when he wakes up, the next day
is likely to be a difficult one. We have to give him benadryll at night or he would stay up for 24 hrs straight or longer and would rage for days.He has never gone to sleep without something to help him since he was 2.Before that he never slept more than 2 hrs at a time.
He is also very sensitive to lots of noise! Last night we were at a
HUGE family gathering and I learned something new about him. He had
his PSP and was playing it in a corner by himself almost the entire
evening and the evening went as smooth as ever. So I guess if he is
focused on something when there is all of this noise and commotion
around him, he doesn't really notice it. So now the PSP is coming
everywhere with us!!!!!This is just the opposit of my guy,he would have been bouncing off the walls!Nothing would have calmed him.But if there had of been another child(couldn't have been 2 or more)he would have been fine!
Another thing that we have noticed that helps a lot is LOTS of hugs
and positive comments and compliments, during the day, about the
things that we love about him. Right on! Best therapy there is for mine too,nothing helps more. It is so easy to get focused on the
rages because they spend so much of our energy but he needs to know
how wonderful he is!! And the great thing about him is that just as
intense as his rages are, so is the intensity of his love and
compassion for people!!!This brought tears to my eyes,I came from a very abusive home growing up and have often said that Elijah was placed in my life to teach me real love and how to express it.He is the most loving human being I know,but then I know that you know exactly where I am coming from<smile>
Thanks you have helped me more than you know.
Tricia
SPONSORED LINKS
Secondary school education Graduate school education Home school education Graduate school education online High school education Chicago school education
---------------------------------
YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
Visit your group "unschoolingbasics" on the web.
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[email protected]
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
Yahoo! Shopping
Find Great Deals on Holiday Gifts at Yahoo! Shopping
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