Tuesday 25 August 2015

Re-Setting Your System

The school gates are due to open in a matter of days.  I have helpfully reminded all those concerned about this fact in an effort to ease them into the next mind-set. 

Monday night our quieter boy came back down the stairs to tell me he thought he was going to be sick.  I managed to convince him otherwise and tucked him back in.

Last night he appeared again.  “I have the hic-cups so when I lie down I think I’m going to be sick.”

He is not going to be sick.  I know exactly what is bothering him.

School is bothering him.  The thoughts of it are bothering him.  I went upstairs with him and sat on his bed.  We had a chat.  Or at least I tried to chat to him.  He turned away from me to face the wall.  I chatted anyway.

We did a little relaxation exercise taken from a book I can highly recommend called A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Anxiety” by Dawn Huebner, PH.D. 




You might also find it helpful for your child if they are worrying about the return to school.  Or about any other anxious occasion in their life. 

Picture your mind like a television and the worry thoughts are a programme you don’t want to watch.  Think about changing that channel on the television.  You can do this by “re-setting your system” and this means doing something to change the way your body feels.

 


Try this relaxation exercise.

Squeeze your hands into tight fists.
Scrunch up your face.
Tense your body.

Hold this “body scrunch” for 5 seconds.
Then let everything go so you are nice and floppy.

Now it’s time to breathe deeply.

Imagine the breath you are taking in as being cool and calming.  Think of it going all the way down into your tummy.
Now breathe out.  Think about this breath out as beign hot and bothered air.

In – cool and calm.                        
Out – hot and bothered.

Do this 5 times.

This next bit is my favourite.

Pick a happy memory.  It can be anything at all.  As long as it gives you happy thoughts when you think about it.  It can be a tastier than usual hot chocolate.  A day at the zoo.   Going into the shop and finding your favourite magazine.

Now, think about what you see.  What are you wearing?  Can you hear anything?  How do you feel?

When I did this exercise with the boy it was intended for, two more joined in and had a great time.

Ten minutes later the hic-cups were gone and all thoughts of feeling sick had stopped.  He wasn’t facing the wall anymore and he wrote down a couple of good things that had happened that day as well.

Then he fell asleep.

I think a little distraction exercise like this can work for everyone.





6 comments:

  1. Aw poo little fella but that's a really lovely exercise

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Yaz! He'll be ok. I hope! Currently it's the thoughts of it that are killing him. Once he gets in there he'll be fine. Again, I hope!

      Delete
  2. I have an anxious little one here. I must get a copy of that book. That sounds like a lovely exercise. I'm sure I'll need to try it on the eve of 'big school'!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sadhbh it's a great book. Explains everything really well and offers lovely little ways to overcome anxiety. If we can get our kids to learn these tools during their childhood, they can use them when they're older.

      Delete
  3. Unfortunately there are a lot of AIDS/Herpes denials on Herbal cures still out there. I did research on them after I was tested HIV/Herpes positive I was so worried am I going to die soon. I continue my search again on herbal remedy for Std, then I found lots of testimony on how Dr Itua Herbal Medicine Cured HIV/Aids, Herpes Virus,Copd, Hepatitis,Shingles, Diabetes,Epilepsy,Infertility, On websites sharing their testimonies, which made much more sense to me. All the authors pronounce Dr Itua As a man with Good Heart, I pick interest in their testimonies and I contact him about my situation then he gave me procedure how it works, I proceed after one week he courier his Herbal Medicine to me and instruct me on how to drink it for two weeks to cure. I receive His Herbal Medicine so I drank it for two weeks as I was told then after 2 days I go for a test I found out I was cured from HIV/Aids & Herpes Virus, I pay homage to him 2 months ago to his country to celebrate with him on his African festival which he told me it usually happens every year. I know there are lots of (HIV)/Aids&Herpes Virus denials of Herbal Remedy movement the same few doctors and they represent a very small faction of the community. I could have died because I refused Natural Herbs Cures for so long, but luckily, by the grace of God I am alive to tell my story. Contact Info...Whatsapp Number...+2348149277967,Email...drituaherbalcenter@gmail.com/My Instagram Username...avat5634 Just in case you need someone to talk with.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I believe in alternative medicine, especially with essential oils you can, which you can use for health and beauty as well

    ReplyDelete