Report on some progress from a parent

[Guest guest]

Hello - I posted six or eight weeks ago about my daughter; we are

working with Swingle in Vancouver on a variety of issues,

including PTSD, attachment concerns, opposition, some ADHD-like

symptoms. It's still fairly early days in the training but I wanted to

report that I think we're beginning to see definite changes.

They've been looking at that " Swingle ratio " for the past few sessions,

working on opposition, inflexibility, defiance. For a few weeks, our

daughter was extremely volatile (more than usual) and extremely

inflexible, too. On Christmas Day, I don't think she responded

positively the first time to a single parental request, including fun

requests like " Come on over here for a cookie. " I would have been in

despair except we are pretty used to this kind of behaviour, and

besides, they told us at the clinic that we might see a lot of highs

and lows for a while.

The day after Boxing Day, something seemed to switch. It was literally

as if someone had turned on a light. It's hard to describe, but for the

past week, the weather around her has been different. She has been far

more cheerful and co-operative, much more open or available to reason,

less irritable, and when she does get upset she is much more able to

calm herself, either with parental help or on her own. She is also

switching gears more easily. She can be persuaded to stop or to listen

before launching into a behaviour she'll later regret. Not 100% of the

time, of course. But far more often.

She is sleeping better. Still grinds her teeth, but not as often or as

roughly. Still calls out in her sleep but not every night. Sleeps

longer in the morning.

She's also a little " spacier " or " dreamier " or even withdrawn some of

the time, which feels like a nice change right now, but I can imagine

might cause its own problems down the line.

The other big change (and this one has been apparent for the past

month, at least) is that she is far more affectionate and reciprocal.

Offers hugs and kisses, wants to be close (in age-appropriate ways) but

is not overly clingy or demanding. Plays alone very happily. She has

been managing the school day quite well for the most part, too. One or

two restless or unfocused days but working well on the whole.

It is very early days in this change, of course. Maybe I'll pick her up

from school today only to find her back to her old tricks. But it feels

as if something significant is beginning to happen. Just thought people

here might like to know.

[Guest guest]

,

This is just wonderful news, and I'm thankful that you wrote in to give us an update on your daughter's progress. I look forward to learning how her story unfolds. Happiest of new years to you and your family.

Merrifield

-------------- Original message from Olding <susan.olding@...>: -------------- > Hello - I posted six or eight weeks ago about my daughter; we are > working with Swingle in Vancouver on a variety of issues, > including PTSD, attachment concerns, opposition, some ADHD-like > symptoms. It's still fairly early days in the training but I wanted to > report that I think we're beginning to see definite changes. > > They've been looking at that "Swingle ratio" for the past few sessions, > working on opposition, inflexibility, defiance. For a few weeks, our > daughter was extremely volatile (more than usual) and extremely > inflexible, too. On Christmas Day, I don't think she responded > positively the first time to a single parental request, including fun > requests like "Come on over here for a cookie." I would have been in > despair except we are pretty used to this kind of behaviour, and > besides, they told us at the clinic that we might see a lot of highs > and lows for a while. > > The day after Boxing Day, something seemed to switch. It was literally > as if someone had turned on a light. It's hard to describe, but for the > past week, the weather around her has been different. She has been far > more cheerful and co-operative, much more open or available to reason, > less irritable, and when she does get upset she is much more able to > calm herself, either with parental help or on her own. She is also > switching gears more easily. She can be persuaded to stop or to listen > before launching into a behaviour she'll later regret. Not 100% of the > time, of course. But far more often. > > She is sleeping better. Still grinds her teeth, but not as often or as > roughly. Still calls out in her sleep but not every night. Sleeps > longer in the morning. > > She's also a little "spacier" or "dreamier" or even withdrawn some of > the time, which feels like a nice change right now, but I can imagine > might cause its own problems down the line. > > The other big change (and this one has been apparent for the past > month, at least) is that she is far more affectionate and reciprocal. > Offers hugs and kisses, wants to be close (in age-appropriate ways) but > is not overly clingy or demanding. Plays alone very happily. She has > been managing the school day quite well for the most part, too. One or > two restless or unfocused days but working well on the whole. > > It is very early days in this change, of course. Maybe I'll pick her up > from school today only to find her back to her old tricks. But it feels > as if something significant is beginning to happen. Just thought people > here might like to know. > > > > > >