Yesterday evening when Rob had an "episode" over dinner (he did not want to eat what I made, he wanted something we did not have)... a lightbulb turned on over my head. A nagging suspicion led me back through the mood log and the pattern I suspected was revealed! Rob has meltdowns after doctor appointments! Therapy is a trigger for Rob.
Other triggers include school, work (in home & out), girls, and I don't know what else.
I would not have guessed that a session with the therapist would trigger his anxiety. We both speak to him calmly, with interjections of humor, listen to his opinion, there is no raising of voices or yelling, nor arguing. It's all very civilized, it's all about Rob, and he contributes fully every time. And he seems fine when we are there. But the pattern of acting out afterwards is now obvious. Apparently those appointments are highly stressful for him, even if he doesn't show it - and the tension is normally (for him) released with a fit of some sort.
Hmm. Live and learn. I'll have to be extra sweet to him on doctor days. Try to head him off at the pass.
Yesterday evening when Rob had an "episode" over dinner (he did not want to eat what I made, he wanted something we did not have)... a lightbulb turned on over my head. A nagging suspicion led me back through the mood log and the pattern I suspected was revealed! Rob has meltdowns after doctor appointments! Therapy is a trigger for Rob.
Other triggers include school, work (in home & out), girls, and I don't know what else.
I would not have guessed that a session with the therapist would trigger his anxiety. We both speak to him calmly, with interjections of humor, listen to his opinion, there is no raising of voices or yelling, nor arguing. It's all very civilized, it's all about Rob, and he contributes fully every time. And he seems fine when we are there. But the pattern of acting out afterwards is now obvious. Apparently those appointments are highly stressful for him, even if he doesn't show it - and the tension is normally (for him) released with a fit of some sort.
Hmm. Live and learn. I'll have to be extra sweet to him on doctor days. Try to head him off at the pass.