Ready for anything... the challenges continue...

it's so important to focus on the positives

One of the hardest parts of Autism, we, as parents, have to address, is facing the subject of ‘Medication!’

Many of us at some point have had to (or will have to) confront these discussions, make the decisions, attempt the reality, and accept the outcome.

Along with making the decision to begin trialing these supports, having to make adjustments and changes as they get older, addressing any side effects and other issues that go along with it, while also deciding whether they are effectively working and fully beneficial to our child.

As hard as all that is to deal with, we are also being confronted and bombarded with the social stigma and other people's personal opinions on what 'they' think is best.

Some can't wait to tell us the latest - 'treatment' - 'social media negativity' - 'cure' - 'someone who has a friend's cousin's son with a new program that really works' and the list goes on, regarding what they have heard, read, or been told about.

All of this while we are still getting our head around what we are personally dealing with can be overwhelming at best.

Then as our kids get older, they will start to realise they're different, questioning why things are happening, then touching on the area of medication, including why do they need them.

Before anything we should first remember one thing....

If we or someone we loved was effected by a serious medical condition such as - 

Asthma/Allergies, Heart Conditions, Epilepsy/Seizures, Diabetes, etc

Even others such as Lupus, Parkinson's, Celiac, Crohn's, Alzheimer's/Dementia, Cancer, etc.

All these conditions require medication to assist, maintain, stabilise, and help to manage day-to-day functioning, and we would not hesitate to agree to take anything suggested by medical professionals to prolong or enhance our lives.

Without assuming when the unknown is placed before them/us, no-one should judge the decisions a single person makes for the benefit of their child/family.

Anxiety/Depression, Sensory Sensitivities, and even sleep concerns, are only a few of the areas displaying different side effects, needing support to stabilise or minimise, and the use of medication may be used for that to occur.

Right or wrong we need to gain and do whatever we can for the best outcome.

A.J. Is one of the statistics needing medication for a number of his conditions, the main ones being-

-Anxiety Disorder and

-Sleep Initiation Disorder

Challenges we face with our special needs kids can really knock them and us over at times.

A.J. Is no exception, we can have days that we sail through without realising the time has gone and others that present challenges at every corner.

In everyday life we all face things we have to deal with, that's part of life, and addressing the needs of a special needs child is no different.

Today was one of those days when we needed such supports.....

Facing a crash and burn moment with A.J. as he begins to question and fight the reasoning for his medications, 

resulting in a meltdown at school, and having to be brought home. 

Sometimes they still don't get the whole picture....

Noises and distorted Lighting are just a couple of the areas he faces confusing reactions with his sensory dysfunction.   

When A.J. becomes confused in his surroundings, the results display disorientation, the anxiety kicks in, then rambling in his verbal responses, and now he's doing this in his written form as well.

The outcome of this today, I received a call stating he filled out his worksheet "inappropriately" and it needs addressing.

The frustration I feel while trying to explain a single day of A.J.'s life, knowing he puts such a high expectations on himself to achieve the best, then when placed with time limits and specific demands he displays overwhelming tension and stress, resulting in a feeling of failure. This pressure will instigate stress levels to rise and set off his anxiety, triggering a meltdown.

Others watching on then see the behaviour displayed before them and easily assume “a disobedient child needing discipline” this will then set off another trigger reaction of emotions.

It was so obvious when I arrived at school he was in sensory meltdown..... And they didn't pick up on it!

All because, as he later explained -"I can't find the right (appropriate) words" that they will accept. 

Just another day really.....