Blog — anxiety

There are many labels for what we deem as "different" in our society. In my opinion, Autism is the most overused. I can't tell you how many people assume a child is Autistic because they are anxious or tune out around crowds. So how do you know when to be alarmed and when to let it ride out? People with social anxiety disorder (sometimes called “social phobia”) have a marked fear of social or performance situations in which they expect to feel embarrassed, judged, rejected, or fearful of offending others. Social anxiety disorder symptoms include: Feeling highly anxious about being...

There are a variety of fillings to choose from to use in a weighted blanket.  What is best and has the longest lasting effect? The most popular options are polypropylene (PP) pellets and glass beads.  Here are few things to consider when making your purchase: 1) Toxicity Seems like a big deal since its covering your body, right?! It's important to look for BPA-free, non-toxic polypropylene pellets. BPA exhibits toxic, endocrine, mutagenic and carcinogenic effects in living organisms...something you want to stay clear of. Consider using a virgin material to avoid toxicity. 2) Odor This can be common in recycled plastic due to the additives...

My family loves traveling. For the most part they are near perfection with long car rides, impromptu hikes, sleeping on the floor and trying new foods. As our summer comes to a close, I reflect back on one common thread to our trips….no one wants to sleep near Wyatt. Including his mother.   Dolan and I took Wyatt on a trip of his choice (as we do with each child annually). He chose Florida, with a little nudge from me;) . The time change really threw me off. Most of the vacation I didn’t go to sleep until 2:00AM. One...

The power of play to engage kids in therapeutic activities is accepted by most Speech and Occupational Therapists as one of the perks of our profession. This article from our friends at spectrumnews.org provides good information and evidence for the use of creative play towards the development of social skills for children on the autism spectrum...."Play provides some of a child’s first opportunities to rehearse social interactions, generate novel ideas, toy with symbolism and develop narratives — skills that serve us later in life, particularly in our highly social world. Indeed, children who engage in more complex play early in...

Anxiety to new situations is a normal part of a child’s development. However, children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may have a particularly difficult time processing changes in their routine and environment. An autistic child may show their anxiety through stimming, meltdowns, withdrawal from social situations, self-injury or inattentiveness.  It is important to be prepared for situations that may be a trigger for your child. Children with ASD are often hypersensitive and unable to filter background sensory information in the form of specific noises, bright lights, and textures. Many parents of ASD children have endorsed calming tools such as weighted...