This Autism Journey

Hello! It’s been a while, and it’s been busy. I wanted to share something I recently learned. It’s about being a seesaw. (Yes, I’m referring to the piece of playground equipment that many children love.)

The seesaw concept originated from a seminar I attended about autism and behaviors. As a parent of children with Autism, I have had to grapple with their meltdowns, temper tantrums, elopements, anxiety, and sensory overload for a long time. It is tiring, challenging, discouraging, and can really weigh heavily on my mind.

It’s easy to get unsettled when one of them is having a meltdown. It may not be outward, but inwardly, the heart rate increases, the brain starts racing, the voice gets louder and higher, and it all feels overwhelming. Sometimes I have to defend myself from physical blows or sprint through the aisles of Target to run after my child as he elopes. It’s massive amounts of stress, anxiety, and at times, I have found myself not knowing what to do, until I remember the seesaw approach.

It’s exactly how it sounds. When they go up, I go down. When they get upset, I get super calm. When they hit, I block and demonstrate appropriate touches. When they yell, I speak in a quieter voice. It’s the counter to whatever the behavior is, but done intentionally. It’s self-control when the situation around me is so out of control. A seesaw.

I just thought I would share one of my coping mechanisms to minimize the stress and anxiety of another emotional breakdown. For the most part, it’s been working. Sometimes I forget to implement it, but I always know there will be another opportunity to do so. Ha-ha!

What do you do to stay steady when things feel or get out of control? Of course, if things are going great, then enjoy the ride, but if not, give it a try!

Take care,

Heather