JulesMar 18

How do I, a person who deals with being excited and anxious by getting overwhelmed, teach my kid how to deal with being excited and anxious in a different way? I have no idea.

The other parent isn't helpful (doesn't get excited and anxious in this way).

#ActuallyAutistic

Show threadRandom WeirdoMar 18
@quidcumque Stimming does help me a lot. The more I can move, the better. So, if possible, dancing, jumping, punching a bag/cushion, swaying. Vocal stims are very comforting to me. Singing, humming... And focusing on my breathing is a good thing to prevent (or postpone) a meltdown. Box breathing. Imagine my breath reaching the part of my body that feels most itchy. And lately, I have used skills (rings and spike balls). Focusing on sth that calms me (prayer).
Show threadJulesMar 18

@Sci_Fi_FanGirl good point with stimming, it helps me too. Breathing is something I can't really do on my own for myself (I need external guidance, which can be an audio tape but not my inner voice), but I do it with the kid and it does work. Bit hard to do with two other kids around 😬

(Stimming and prayer. Hmm. Maybe I really need to try this rosary thing.)

Show threadRandom WeirdoMar 18

@quidcumque Breathing: counting does not help (4 times in, hold, 6 times out, hold)? Maybe your kid can learn to do it alone, using some mental image, like "take a deep breath, focus and blow out all the many many candles on the cake"?

Oh yes, the Rosary might help focus. And you have sth to fidget with.

Show threadJulesMar 18

@Sci_Fi_FanGirl and yes I guess the rosary could be something. Which is weird, because it's very much an "old woman" thing for me. But touching things with my hands and repetitive prayer does sound like I could like it.

I had difficulty calming down today and sitting and praying did help.

Show threadzahlenzauber*in 
@quidcumque @Sci_Fi_FanGirl old ladies seem to know a lot about stimming. All the knitting (my preferred method of stimming) and crocheting and now rosaries as well  .
Mar 19 at 5:06amWeb
Show threadJulesMar 19

@Zahlenzauberin you might be on to something!

@Sci_Fi_FanGirl