| I have two kiddos with sensory processing disorder, with various triggers. My son (Ender) has it far worse than my daughter, and the biggest suggestion I offer is to disregard the opinions of others when you find methods to deal with meltdowns. Until we found a medication that worked for Ender, the meltdowns were catastrophic and the loss of control was overwhelming. Eventually I found that holding him tight near me eventually calmed him down. My arms wrapped around him like a great bear hug, pinning arms to the side so he cannot lash out and hurt others or break things (we lost two TVs before I figured this out). I'd even have to wrap my legs around his to prevent kicking. He would calm down after a time, and usually end up falling asleep and taking a short nap. We purchased a nice weighted blanket and that now plays this role of comfort during his times of need. Finding Nemo was magical as well when he was beginning to melt down. The relatively quiet scenes would mesmerize him and eventually the meltdown would pass. We'd also use his favorite food as a motivation to get through particularly arduous tasks, like when he started kindergarten. The other side of this coin is to not feel guilt or shame when meltdowns occur in public. His brain is receiving an overwhelming barrage of external stimuli and he didn't know yet how best to manage this stress and anxiety. The children will need to be around others and in stressful environments, so public meltdown is inevitable. Whenever it happens, I pick him up and remove him from the situation temporarily. You'll get side eye or accusatory glances from others who simply do not understand, but you're doing your best meeting your child's needs. Apply the calming methodologies that work for your child (I will head to the car and snuggle my son until the storm has passed), then praise them for calming down and tell them they will be going back to that environment, but it's okay. Over time, both you and your child will improve -- meltdowns will become more rare, and coping will become easier. Finally, look into occupational therapy. Ender went for a little over a year and has learned multiple coping mechanisms we use to this day (like deep breathing...the mantra for him is "smell the flowers, blow out the candles). I'm in a very fortunate situation for work, where my employer is incredibly understanding of my domestic situations. I have incredibly flexible availability when needed and they trust me to accomplish what is needed. I'd talk to the potential employer and describe the situation before outright turning down the offer. See if they empathize and perhaps something can be worked out. I am far from an expert in any of this, but I've learned a lot about my situation in the past 4 years. Please do not hesitate to ask any questions if you desire. Best of luck, and remember two things:
- This is no one's fault, least of all your's or the child's.
- It gets better. It will never go away, but it gets better. |