Having Moments......

A.J. and our little Laura,
she's becoming so helpful  

Facing an emotional roller-coaster for any reason can be a hard thing to handle in normal situations, so when we add the sensory and anxiety issues our ASD kids face it becomes a whole different ballgame. 

Unfortunately today at school was one of those days for A.J. and the result was evident after picking him up in the afternoon.

The moment happened after trying to hold his emotions in check all day, then when finally making it to the safety of our car with someone he can trust to help out he had a relapse and lost emotional control. 

It all comes down to something most people would think as minute and non-eventful, although as all ASD parents know it is the world to our kids.

For A.J. it all began when he had some adjustments with his glasses last year, going from single vision lenses that he very rarely wore, to the permanent use of multi focal lenses.

A.J.'s vision requires the use of glasses for standard to long distance viewing, although his vision close up within arms length is perfect. This close-up issue has him view every little spec of dust, fluff and smudge on his glasses, then needing constant cleaning, causing repeated stress and confusion.

This ongoing turmoil blew up for him today when, while trying to view the board to write down his work and check his iPad for research notes, his vision became blurry and out of focus without being able to stabilise. The issue was exacerbated by the concern he has with having people sitting behind him, needing to monitor and keep himself safe from unknown actions and therefore not being able to sit close enough to the board for better viewing.

Our poor little man had been coping so well with his high school process that it was so distressing to see the sadness this had caused.

Helping out is best done by doing nothing, sitting in the wings, waiting for his emotions to settle and regulate. No amount of arguing, reasoning, theorising, or saying "it will be OK" will help, we just have to wait it out till he comes out of it by himself, then we can console and discuss the situation as best as possible and try to resolve it in a way that he can understand and comprehend.

  

Once home A. J. headed straight to the safety and sanctity of his 'realm' waiting out the storm and resurfacing only when calm takes hold, and no matter how hard things get our adorable A.J. still worries about others, stating to me when he returned to reality....

"Nan I'm sorry I'm such a burden to you and Pop"

Giving him the biggest hug I could muster up, my instant response was....

"you are NEVER a burden, we are so lucky and grateful to have you in our lives; never forget that we always have and always will love you so very much"

And with that a glowing smile covered his grim face and he happily called to Laura for a run in the yard to settle him even more, then with that everything is back to normal, for now.