By award-winning author/ stress-relief expert Susie Mantell
Q: Dear Susie, Our 8 year old boy with Aspergers Syndrome experiences very "jangly" moments and can be quite disruptive at school and home. Do you have relaxation techniques that would help, and might your CD, "Your Present: A Half-Hour of Peace," possibly soothe him into a calmer state at those times? (Signed: Sleepy Mom)
A: Dear "Sleepy Mom," Your journey, and your son's, are not easy ones. But there is growing attention to the complex range of Autism Spectrum Disorders. My own work being in stress management, so it is also advisable to talk with a trusted, knowledgeable medical professional who can sit face to face with your family and recommend how best to proceed. That said, here are few suggestions that come to mind that I hope will bring some comfort.
1. Your suggestion of guided imagery and other relaxation tools is an excellent idea. We receive letters and emails telling us that my own relaxation audiobook, "Your Present: A Half-Hour of Peace," has been used successfully by many parents of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders, ADHD or sleep disorders, to soothe children and help them to fall, or fall back to, sleep. The gentle narration provides a focal point for the listener's mind, which can be especially helpful when children are 'stimming' or repetitive or perseverative thoughts or actions seem to preoccupy attention and energy. "Your Present: A Half-Hour of Peace" was originally created with an adult audience in mind, though we’ve discovered through parents that children also respond to the comforting quality, so yes, you might want to give that a try. I have heard that Listening Therapy is an approach sometimes used, and this might be a gentle technique to incorporate. (It may provide comfort to fam ily members as well.)
2. Take a look on my website's Tips page for many techniques for helping caregivers, parents, and for kids cope with stress too. There are many strategies there that are appropriate for you and your little boy, or that you can adapt. As you know all too well, autism impacts every family member, so you all may find supportive stress-relief suggestions. Also see tips for breath work--mindful, focused breathing, which calms and refocuses, providing a focal point where the mind can simply rest.
Remember: When events circumstances are not a choice, perspective is.
'It is not what you look at, but what you see.' -Henry David Thoreau
See: "Just for This Day" by poet Sally Meyer for her remarkable son, Dhylan, reprinted with permission from the author at http://www.relaxintuit.com/tips/259
I hope something here is helpful. and wish you and your very special little guy wonderful support, love and laughter, and many, many "half-hours of peace."
Kindest regards,
Susie Mantell, www.relaxintuit.com
[Copyright 2000, 2010 Susie Mantell, Relax. . .Intuit (tm) LLC. All rights reserved.] Federal law prohibits use of this material in whole or in part without the express written consent of Relax...Intuit (tm) LLC. For Reprint Permission: Kindly email your request for guidelines, pasting in the full text of the specific article you wish to use, to info@relaxintuit.com We'll try to reply within 72 hrs.]
Award-winning stress-relief expert Susie Mantell ...is the author of the deeply soothing relaxation CD, "Your Present: A Half-Hour of Peace,” clinically approved for symptoms associated with stress and sleeplessness, depression and grief, anxiety, P.T.S.D., Fibromyalgia, caregiver stress, cancer, pain, divorce, children with special needs, and addiction recovery. Featured in The Los Angeles Times, NBC, ABC, CBS-TV, Town & Country, The American Pain Society, Hazelden and The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, listeners include The Mayo Clinic, Memorial Sloan-Kettering, The Betty Ford Center, V.A. Hospitals,and Canyon Ranch (#1 Spa.) Customizing stress-reduction for Fortune 500 companies, distinguished hospitals and spas, Mantell has facilitated thousands in relieving health-related, work-related, chronic or traumatic stress. Her multi-sensory, mind-body techniques appear in national media, medical and corporate publications. Susie Mantell's Stress-Relief & Wellness Tip s are intended as an adjunct to, not a substitute for, professional health care. Order “Your Present: A Half-Hour of Peace” and find more of Mantell’s stress-relief tips at www.relaxintuit.com
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