Words to live by---

These 3 things remain true to the "Journey of Autism". Anyone or everyone can advise you;

ULTIMATELY you MUST go with what you feel is right. "GO WITH YOUR GUT."

Once you have arrived at this decision; "NEVER GIVE UP"!

LASTLY "Ya Gotta do, what Ya Gotta do!"



Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Time to get back to Behaviors-The Puzzle

Well I guess its postponing the envitable. Since as early as December 2009 Dakota has been having episodes of aggression that I had never seem prior. Over the course of his life he has had tantruming and behaviors that others were unable to understand or perhaps even intimidated by but always manageable. By that I mean usually you could identity an antecedent and/or trigger and potentially eliminate a reoccurence.

The issues Dakota has had since December have been different because many of the times I cannot figure out what is triggering it. Also these "episodes" have been much more intense and he has expressed much more rage. Yelling, Physically assaulting himself and me and more sorrow and emotion. I have no fear of him because it is done with NO INTENT too harm anyone it is simply the static in his brain going off and his inability to stop his actions.

Although these behaviors continue, there has been an improvement. The occurrence rate was about 5 to 7 a week at the onset and now it is perhaps 1 or 2 a week. Don't misunderstand there is "all kinds of Autism" besides the behaviors goin on but for the most part this "Ragey Stuff" has curtailed.

We recently took a 2000 mile trip over 9 days and there was only 2 real episodes --SO THAT'S A BIG IMPROVEMENT. And I can honestly say that I deciphered both incidents -- I know what caused them and I know how to avoid those situations in the future.

My most recent hurdle has been with the program I have had him in --Anthesis. At the onset almost a year ago he had a couple of reactions that were inappropriate and were dealt with very effectively . Just the past few months have seemed to "crop up" feelings that Dakota is acting on. It is manifesting itself with actions toward the wonderful woman who has been working with him. The initial trigger was the time of an appointment for a session that had been changed from the original session from that he even reacted when she tried to observe him on a preferred activity with friends. ITS DEFINITELY NOT HER it that she represents the program --I believe he is trying to tell me that he does not want to go anymore and it is breaking my heart.

To have the baby you gave birth too struggle with so many issues that you have no control over is heart wrenching. More so not having a solution or "fix" is even worse. BUT you keep plugging on and you keep trying and NEVER GIVE UP. Remain diligent in observation and thought. It is truly a puzzle and you have to keep tryin to put the pieces together. You may not ever get the whole puzzle together but if you get the "frame" at least it gives you a space to work with in. 

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