Encouraging Communication

After our first speech therapy session on 28th October 2019, I bought loads of book to teach me how to encourage Isaac to communicate more. One of the books mentioned using cookies or other food items but it reminded me of the scene from Oliver Twist where Oliver was asking for more food. Isaac has sensory avoidance issues when it comes to food so he's an extremely fussy eater. He loves biscuits and other treats but I didn't like the idea of withholding them from him in order to get him to talk more. 

Instead of food I decided to encourage communication through play. Isaac enjoys going on the swings so I would use that activity to encourage communication. After pushing him on the swings a few times I would say "Do you want more?" At first he would say "Yes!", then he started to say "Yes! More" and now he's saying "Yes, I want more swing!" It took some time but we got there in the end🙌🏾.

Good Medicine

Whenever I'm feeling stressed and worn out I try to remember that Proverbs 17:22 tells us that "a joyful heart is Good Medicine". Studies have shown that smiling can help to lift our mood so I try to smile even when things aren't going as planned.

Cocoa for Anxiety

 

I applied for an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP) for Isaac back in June but my application was refused due to a lack of professional evidence. The SEN caseworker advised me to re-apply through Isaac's nursery after I received his speech therapy report so we re-applied last Autumn. The panel agreed to assess Isaac's needs to decide whether or not to issue an EHCP for him. Isaac is due to start primary school in September 2021 and I need to decide which school to send him to. If the panel agree to issue an EHCP I should be able to choose a suitable school for him to attend through the Special Education Needs process. However, at this point I don't know whether the panel will issue the EHCP so I need to apply for a school using the normal application process. 

The deadline for primary school applications is 15th January 2021. I've spent the past few months investigating schools in the area to try and find a suitable school and I finally submitted my application two days ago. We're allowed to choose 6 schools and we need to list them in order of preference. It was extremely hard to decide which schools to put on my list and I kept changing my mind up to the last minute. The whole process was nerve wracking because I don't want to send Isaac to a school that will be unsuitable for his needs. Thankfully I was able to calm my nerves with hot cups of cocoa. According to this article cocoa helps to boost mood while positively affecting anxiety so I plan to drink hot cocoa whenever I'm feeling anxious.

Stress Management

In March 2020 the UK government issued a lockdown to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. My son became frustrated and began to throw severe tantrums harming himself in the process. I became so stressed out by the situation that I developed anxiety and insomnia. After ending up in hospital I began to dedicate more time to self-care. 

As parents we want the best for our children so it's natural for us to feel concerned if our is displaying challenging behaviour. Stress has it's benefits as it can help to push us into action ensuring that we obtain the necessary support for our children. However, too much stress can be detrimental for our health leaving us feeling worn out. In order to have the emotional energy to care for our children we need to ensure that we're filled with faith, hope and positivity.

Research has shown that Lavender oil has a calming effect on the mind, so it's often used to help people to relax. In addition to helping people to sleep, Lavender oil can also help to prevent anxiety. A study reported in the Independent shows that mice exposed to the aroma of Lavender oil showed less signs of anxiety. The study was also discussed on the NHS website which concluded that the scent of Lavender was worth trying. 

I started drinking Chamomile tea after learning that it can help people to relax and unwind. According to this study Chamomile extract can help to relieve symptoms of anxiety and it's safe for long term use. 

Research has shown that physical activity can help with mild to moderate stress, anxiety and depression. Resistance training helps to release endorphins making people feel happier so I try to do some form of weight training on a regular basis.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is useful for people struggling with stress, depression and anxiety as it helps us to take control of our negative thoughts. If you're not able to see a CBT therapist you can teach yourself the techniques by reading books and/or doing courses.