A small victory in a daily battle!

We attended Miss Nephi this week to watch my niece, I came totally prepared with fidget toys, Ipod to provide distraction and drown out the loud clapping noises, my moms Ipad for a games, books, ect... I really felt prepared.

Just as I had anticipated Carson did great at first, he loves taking in everything the lights, the sounds, the show, however once his sensory needs were fulfilled he became bored with the experience and started to look for other ways to entertain himself. Before long he became overstimulated, during the clapping and yelling for the contestants he started getting upset, telling me he HAD to leave NOW, he started breathing fast and his heart was beating fast. This was about to become a full blown panic attack.

Previously I would have responded in 2 ways, either tell him he is fine and make him stay which would have no doubt resulted in a panic attack and us leaving OR taken him out and allow him to calm down.

THIS TIME! I sat him on my lap and gave him a big tight long hug. This gave him a good amount of proprioceptive input and helped him center himself again. I covered his ears and sang softly into them you are my sunshine, his favorite song, that covered the clapping and screaming and gave him soft predictable auditory input. Then I offered him a fidget toy, I knew he was way to upset to get the benefit from it now but it let him know they were available and he could have whichever one he wanted. Then I got out the Ipod and let him listen to music which drowned out the clapping and screaming which was not predictable and very overwhelming for his auditory system. I then sat him on the floor between my chair and the chair in front of us, it was dark and quieter and the smaller space made him feel more comfortable. He played with the fidget toys, the Ipad, and other things I brought but he DID NOT have a panic attack! We didn't have to leave! He finished the entire show with no issue, he was a bit on edge, but nothing extreme! I was so excited, this was a small victory and it felt GOOD!