I often think quite a lot before I write a post, but this one is coming right out. My daughter is still not sleeping, though with acupuncture treatment she is slowly but securely getting better. Men, think of all the women you have lived with and how you feel around their PMS. Women, think how that feels like. Well, with my daughter it’s like living with that a hundred fold. When she is in “sleepless” mode, she spends the night trashing her room, ripping up books, clothes, toys- but all very quietly and methodically. During the day she is exhausted, but still able to quickly “post” everything off the table or pull the books from the shelves. Over time, the “manic” is retreating. The acupuncturist has treated her to balance her hormones and we are nearly there. She has explained it’s like throwing a pebble in the water- at first we had big reactions- more of the same- and now it is the last few ripples…but Oh! I am exhausted….
The last few nights I decided to have her in bad with me rather than try and settle her and wake her as I slip away. It’s been OK. Lots of “emotional” work in those dark hours when our feelings (even for autism) are nearer the surface. Lots of tapping (EFT). Lots of tears “I miss my sister and Daddy”, lots of trying to be a “happy detective” and work out what the emotional causes of this hormonal shift are. Lots of cuddles and making safe. And yes, she has slept. Last night, from 11 to 12pm. And then from 6am only to be woken by our lodger leaving her room next door. Now its 8.30am and I have given up trying to get back to sleep.
Later, at 9.30am we get a home visit from a Doctor. We have been waiting since November for this appointment. Four months. The length of the acupncture treatment (one or two hours a week).
So this blog is really just an old fashioned cry for help. I am committed to helping other parents who go through autism. But for today, I wish for your help.
Prayers. Thoughts. Hopes. Thank you.
Filed under: autism, parents of autistic children, parents of special needs children, self development, special needs
I just wanted to send my thoughts, I hope the home visit from the doctor went ok.
Thank you so much. The visit went much better than I had expected. It was completely refreshing to have a whole hour with a medical doctor, rather than the usual rushed 10 minutes, and also one who was really interested! She supported the acupuncture treatment (!) and has an idea or two up her sleeve if we need it. She is suggesting that the sleeplessness is a new form of my daughter’s epilepsy- which totally makes sense, so we shall see. And my daughter slept last night….