Anxiety (maybe tiny vent/sook)

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Damo (5 years) has started showing anxiety at school and even crying and saying he can't breath. This is mainly in connection with change or teachers not be able to understand him. I feel so helpless!
I had a chat with his teacher this morning and she is going to try and make the transistion smoother today as she has Teacher Release time today, which mean Damo will have different teacher.
The different teacher has been the same since the beginning of school 4 weeks ago but Damo won't let anyone else apart from his regular teacher do things for him.
His teacher (Angela) is great, she really want to help him at school. He is not struggling accademically but is with his talking and interaction with the other children.
What else can I do to help his anxiety apart from warning him about change?
We see pyschologist next weeek, I can't wait!! !

I might have to suggest using PECS with his teacher. He doesn't need them at home. The thing is tho he will talk to his teacher but not really to anyone else at school.
Not so sure about sign tho as he has fine motor problems with his fingers.

I know what you are saying! Sometimes even with me he will want to say something and I can tell he is thinking it but he gets all muddled up. I just tell him to Stop and try again and hope that he doesn't get too frustrated and give up.

Poor Damo.

That PECS thing sounds interesting! Or maybe just let him doodle out what he's trying to say on paper or chalkboard/whiteboard.



BTW, that pic of Damo is SOOOO cute!

You could also try using a picture schedule for him. My son has a basic pic schedule that is on the wall at school that outlines the day, and if he needs a more detailed schedule they will use one for his desk. Social stories also work very well to ease into transitions, and help with anxiety.

You can find out more about social stories, and picture schedules here:

http://www.polyxo.com/visualsupport/

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art45166.asp

also does the teacher make it clear that she will be leaving but will come back? when i was younger if people just left it would scare me alot more than if they let me know in advance they will be going but will come back.

i have used a picture scheme with autistic children that i work with (not sure if it is pecs but it sounds similar), this may help make it clearer that the teacher will be coming back

He knows that every Tuesday his regular teacher goes an another one comes it. It is always the same teacher.
A big part of his problem is his speech or lack of it. Where he will try so hard to say what he wants but gets frustrated and gives up or meltdowns. I had that this morning, he kept saying "Mum" over and over and I could tell he was thinking so hard. Then when he got it out it was a jumbled mess.
There is a very clear routine of what happens each day in the classroom but it is at playtime and lunchtime where it is unstructred that he runs into difficulty.
Oh and he apparently doesn't qualify for any teacher aid help because he isn't bad enough. I should really go to vent board to mention more on that

Have you heard of EFT. See www.emofree.com

They get some good results for anxiety. And the little bit of psychological research that has been done has shown it has really good results for reducing anxiety. The website has a free manual so you can teach yourself or they have lists of people who provide it.

It involves tapping on acupressure points while saying what is bothering you. It seems to work a bit like acupuncture. It may sound a bit weird but I've used it a bit and find it really does work for some things.
Some people have quick results and others take a bit longer. It can work really well and I've seen it work on other people too. I do not believe it is a placebo effect. I wish they would do more research into it. It would be good if they could get to the scientific basis of it as I think it can be beneficial for alot of people.

They have done it on children as young as five and they've tried it on children with ASD with some helpful results. There's stories on the website. Do a search on autism, aspergers or anxiety on the site and you should find some anecdotes. I can't promise it will work but it's another option. I like it because I can't take medication.

BTW I've found it doesn't work as well if I eat/drink something that I'm really sensitive to, especially caffeine - but that's a killer for me and I stay right away from it now.

I'd be curious to see if you have any results. It may be best if you find a therapist who can show you how to do it first. The other option is to try it on yourself first and see how you go.

Thanks for your imput Wordish but I think I won't be doing that to my son. He is very touch sensitive and bruises easily.

No worries. I hope you find something that helps him.

Thanks, mainly not changing routines without warning will help. Also using words to let others know what he wants.