For awhile now, Lizze and I have been saying that Emmett has anxiety or panic attacks. When I had mentioned this to the developmental neurologist, she said he was simply throwing a fit.
As far as I'm concerned, a meltdown and an anxiety attack are to vastly different animals.
Emmett can have a meltdown when he doesn't get his way.
I get that.
However, when we are trying to get him dressed and he completely loses it, its different than a fit. He seems panicked and afraid. When we mentioned that to the developmental neurologist, she again said it was a fit and to push him through it.
I bring this up because, after therapy today, Emmett had two panic attack-like episodes.
Lizze was with him when it happened but she said he was hyperventilating and seemed scared, rather than angry.
This actually happened with me the other day. I was getting him out of the car and the ground outside was wet. When he realized the ground was wet he went into a panic. He doesn't like walking on anything that could make his shoes wet or dirty....
Now, the developmental neurologist says to make him walk on the ground anyway. This will help to desensitize him.
I get the point of doing that, however I don't feel right pushing him when he's literally terrified. I know the difference between a disciplinary issue and some that causes my child to completely panic.
We work with him in overcoming those fears but we won't traumatize along the way. Most of it is sensory related and something that will be a work in progress.
Do you think that we are doing the right thing? Should we force hon to do something that will cause him to get so upset that he vomits?
In of the mind frame that baby steps, no matter how small, still constitutes forward progress. Forcing something on him like that seems counterproductive....yes?
Thoughts? Experience?
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