When you work with Autistic kids and you hear the phrase over stimulated a lot. When they get over stimulated weighted vests and blankets are used to help calm them down. It wasn't until I saw this solution that I realized I get over stimulated too.
It's happened quite often lately. I get really irritable and bugged by something happening around me- whether it be too much noise, that talk in church I really don't want to do or just frustrations that have been wearing on me all day. Now, I'm not just merely bugged by these things. No, I feel the frustration to my very core. It feels like it's crawling throughout my body and trying to come out through my skin. It's at these moments that light, soft touches or pains- my husband tickling my arm, my dogs wet nose on my feet or the boys pulling my hair- send me over the edge. What I actually crave is firm pressure- like the weighted blankets and vests from school, or perhaps just a long deep hug.
To help lessen these moments of over stimulation we have implemented a quiet time.
See, we watch my nephew and it was just too much to take when I got home from work. My nephew would make noise and the boys would cry because they wanted me to hold them. To top it all off I'd try to squeeze all my energy into trying to do homework with my nephew. This was slowly becoming an unhappy experience for all of us.
Now, when the boys go down for a nap we have an hour of quiet time. Time where I don't have to answer to anyone's requests. It's helped a great deal here. Even if my nephew doesn't always follow the rules ;)
Yeah, I've tried to explain this phenomenon to Levi and I don't think he quite gets it. But sometimes there's just TOO MUCH going on that requires a mom's attention and that little tickle or tease or whatever is more than she can manage with equanimity. In my case, I tend to have rather violent reactions, so taking time out before someone gets hurt is always wise. :) Luckily, life has been less stressful these days, so it's been awhile since I've snapped, but there have been times when it seems like EVERYTHING is difficult and finding a time to recharge is all too elusive. Luckily these times come and go - so good luck finding a happy place in all the insanity 'cuz when mom's crazy... :) ha ha
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