tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762508614692449133.post5471018224354417271..comments2023-07-08T04:28:06.855-05:00Comments on A Day In the Life of a Freg: Laying it all outUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762508614692449133.post-55752618558133450132011-06-19T16:09:26.500-05:002011-06-19T16:09:26.500-05:00Beth, as I read your blog I started crying. I ide...Beth, as I read your blog I started crying. I identify with so much of your story. I am 30 now, but I still remember how hard it was to grow up with bipolar, OCD, and severe social anxiety. Your son is so fortunate to have a family who cares so much. <br /><br />Keep educating yourself on these disorders; never ever, stop learning about them because we find out more about the brain all the time. I highly recommend NAMI, too. They are great and have a class especially for parents of young children with mental illness. It may help to meet other parents going through the same thing. There is a list of NAMI programs on their website at http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?section=Education_Training_and_Peer_Support_Center. <br /><br />I volunteered there four years, I don't want to sound like a "NAMI ad" or something, because I'm not. I just am trying to help. You and your husband are good parents, I've read your blog a long time, and I know you guys love him so much. He is so very lucky to have parents like that-so many people don't grow up with that.OzarksUSAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11343284174685698739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762508614692449133.post-75994180123165133942011-06-19T15:29:35.471-05:002011-06-19T15:29:35.471-05:00Beth, if you ever need to talk about Asperger'...Beth, if you ever need to talk about Asperger's stuff, call me or email me. Maddie was diagnosed with t in March. It didn't surprise me, either. We went through the same thing with drs telling us she was fine, just "different". It finally took her having a bitch of a teacher and her being so depressed we didn't know what to do to get her to a therapist who could help. We're navigating the Aspie world now. There's a really good book for kids that might help Anthony called "This Is Asperger's". I alo highly recommend books by Tony Atwood. I know you know this, but it's not the end of the world. I actually felt a TON of relief when Maddie was diagnosed. I knew *I* wasn't crazy for knowing there was something wrong!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04132866063675637302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762508614692449133.post-50244431945016151052011-06-19T08:08:30.363-05:002011-06-19T08:08:30.363-05:00Beth, I usually read you through the JM blogs (I&#...Beth, I usually read you through the JM blogs (I'm an editor over there), but I didn't want to wait to reach out to you there. I wanted to offer some support and love to you. My son has PDD-NOS ... a toddler diagnosis for "some kind of autism but we aren't sure what yet" ... along with some other special needs. I feel you, completely. It took me a LONG time to get over the initial kick in the gut of "there's something wrong with my son," and some days I still fall into it. It's hard to keep focus on the fact that he is the same kid today as he was last month. I think this will open up some doors for you and help you help him - which is fabulous.<br /><br />There will always be good days and bad days. Just know you aren't alone, and you will somehow make it through! I'm glad you're opening up about it; I've found writing in my blog has been very therapeutic for myself, and I've met a number of parents who have been helped by reading it all - and professionals who've said they read to learn a more parent perspective to help them service their families.<br /><br />I wanted to share this book, too. I read it a while ago and I thought it was one of those honest, personal stories that can help. It was co-written by 2 parents with special needs kids, one with Aspergers and one with bipolar disorder, both kids in their teens now.<br />http://www.shutupabout.com/<br /><br />Thinking of you so much!Kelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06480104747502697235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762508614692449133.post-23767622792455339182011-06-18T23:58:56.286-05:002011-06-18T23:58:56.286-05:00Hey Beth I wanted to add some thoughts for books t...Hey Beth I wanted to add some thoughts for books to read, that I suggest to all parents but especially when working with children who need emotion regulation. <br /><br />Daniel Goleman writes about Emotion Coaching and increasing Emotional Intelligence in children and I highly highly recommend his work. Dr Gottman, who does some of the most highly valued emotional marriage research, also writes about Emotion Coaching. <br /><br />It fits very nicely with AP by the way. So it should feel very natural, in the face of feeling like you have to "change" so much right now. Instead of tons of change, just enhancing something you already naturally do. That is less stressful for all involved, and for Anthony it won't seem like something brand new from his parents. <br /><br />Emotion Coaching for Autism Spectrum Disorders<br />http://imfar.confex.com/imfar/2009/webprogram/Paper4747.html<br /><br />Berkley has some info <br />http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/raising_happiness/post/emotion_coaching_one_of_the_most_important_parenting_practices_in_the_histo/<br /><br />http://www.apa.org/pi/prevent-violence/resources/domestic-violence.aspx<br /><br />http://www.gottman.com/51164/Research-on-Parenting.html<br /><br />One of the books:<br /><br />http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0684838656?ie=UTF8&tag=gregooscicen-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0684838656Lauren and Clinthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17711791892011514038noreply@blogger.com