Anna Kennedy Online – Autism Awareness Charity
Putting your legs up against a wall does wonders for your body and mind!

Putting your legs up against a wall does wonders for your body and mind!

Putting your legs up against a wall does wonders for your body and mind!

An article by our well being Ambassador Giuliana Wheater and her video!

Putting your legs up against a wall does wonders for your body and mind!

Did you know that putting your legs up against a wall for a few minutes every day does absolute wonders for your body and mental health ?

Christmas is a beautiful and magical time of year but can be really stressful and difficult too, especially if you or your child are neurodivergent .

By simply resting your legs against a wall, the whole nervous system is calmed and soothed, stress is eased and the heart rate and blood pressure come right down and stabilise again.

Blood is pumped to our core instead of all our muscles if we or our child have or are about to hit that dreaded Red Zone.

The body calms and grounds itself. Everything settles down.

Ninety percent of our serotonin, the neurotransmitter of happiness, confidence and self-esteem, is in our gut. As well as tonnes of that completely delicious dopamine which is all about attention, focus, perspective , clear thinking and the gorgeous feeling of reward.

Lying like this helps all of that zoom up the vagus nerve to the brain, leaving us calm and refreshed.

This position also improves sleep and digestion as well as reducing headaches.

If you suffer with swollen ankles or varicose veins, it’s also wonderful for this too !

Almost anyone can do it, even if assistance is needed.

The only contraindication is if you are epileptic.

So I wish you a beautiful, relaxed and happy festive season and a wonderful New Year.

See you in 2023!!!

Lots of love, Giuliana xx

https://www.therapiesforspecialneeds.co.uk

https://www.therapiesforspecialneeds.co.uk/rainbow-kids-club/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/482455567249684/?ref=share_group_link

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Putting your legs up against a wall does wonders for your body and mind!
Putting your legs up against a wall does wonders for your body and mind!

How hanging upside down stimulates the vestibular system – Giuliana Wheater

How hanging upside down stimulates the vestibular system – Giuliana Wheater

An article by our well being Ambassador Giuliana Wheater and her video!

Do you or your child need to always be on the go , have trouble sitting still & concentrating ,bump into things or other people ,constantly fidgets , can play “rough” or “not know their own strength “?

Are you or your child prone to acting impulsively?

These are all signs that the vestibular system is under active.

Kids with an under responsive vestibular system may display signs army school that are deemed “behavioural.”

Movement breaks such as hanging backwards over a large exercise ball. I think these should be in all classrooms for anyone to use.

So, what is the vestibular system?

Basically, it is one of our sensory systems, just like sight, smell or taste.

It is located in the inner ear and is all about movement and balance.

It also regulates our motor skills, coordination , posture, body awareness and spatial awareness.

Hanging upside down provides a powerful dose of stimulation which is necessary for PREVENTING SENSORY RELATED MELTDOWNS!!!

Isn’t that amazing?!

Kids who excessively seek vestibular input can have it seriously interfere with their daily functioning.

It is actually almost IMPOSSIBLE for a child whose vestibular system is unresponsive to sit still and concentrate at school.

The benefits of hanging upside down can last for HOURS!!

And benefit EVERYONE!

In fact if everyone did it in short increments throughout the day , what a difference it would make up emotional regulation, focus attention and productivity .

  1. The whole nervous system is regulated as the vestibular system provides unique input.
  2. It can be calming or alerting.
  3. PREVENTS MELTDOWNS
  4. Relieved back pain by taking pressure off the discs.
  5. It IMPROVES BRAIN FUNCTION .
  6. IMPROVED EMOTIONAL REGULATION.
  7. Improved ability to learn new information .

So whether it’s monkey bars, hanging off the edge of the sofa or a therapy/exercise ball or using an indoor trapeze , hanging upside down I’d scientifically proven to be good for you !!

And its great fun to see the world from a different perspective!

See you next week. Lots of love, Giuliana

https://www.therapiesforspecialneeds.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/482455567249684/?ref=share_group_link

https://www.facebook.com/groups/rainbowtherapieskidsandfamilies/?ref=share_group_link

 

 

How hanging upside down stimulates the vestibular system
How hanging upside down stimulates the vestibular system
Putting your legs up against a wall does wonders for your body and mind!

Setting Healthy Boundaries

Setting Healthy Boundaries…

An article by our Well-being Ambassador Giuliana Wheater

Hello everyone,

We all get those days, don’t we , when as parents we are only human and meltdowns, overwhelm and outbursts of screaming and shouting really get to us . It pulls our hearts to pieces seeing our child communicating such frustration, anger or hurt.

We are always feeling that we could have done something to prevent it , could be doing more or better , and occasionally just hitting that meltdown ourselves .

All behaviour is communication but it can nevertheless be very hard to be that ship’s mast in a tsunami of emotion.

When you feel yourself become simply overwhelmed by it all , feeling like you need the space away from it too because you feel like crying, screaming and telling yourself , please know that all these feelings are normal .

Do not beat yourself up over it.

We all need to take a step back and breathe sometimes.

So what sort of things can we say when our child has just exploded and you all need that step away ?

Here are a few ideas that I’ve tried and have been really effective at times , both as a mother and also within schools or my private sessions.

  1. It’s ok to be upset but not to say hurtful things.
  2. It sounds like you need a bit of space. I am going to wait to listen to you when you’ve finished yelling.
  3. Could you please lower your voice/tone so that I can understand you ?
  4. Could you try to say it in a different way please?
  5. I hear and understand that you’re upset right now but it’s not ok for you to talk to me like this .
  6. Let’s take a break from our conversation for now and come back to it when you’re calmer.

In the meantime here are some strategies that your child might like to do during the “cooling off” to help them process these big emotions in a healthier way whilst still acknowledging them .

And to try to regulate those big emotions BEFORE they build up to meltdown, here is a small fun daily workout which will also get they all important serotonin and dopamine going!!

I really hope this goes some way to helping the whole family.

Take care everyone and see you next week.

Lots of love, Giuliana

https://www.therapiesforspecialneeds.co.uk/

https://youtube.com/@giulianawheaterrainbowkids6329

https://www.facebook.com/groups/482455567249684/?ref=share_group_link

Setting Healthy Boundaries
Setting Healthy Boundaries
Tips for Understanding Your Classmates with Autism

Tips for Understanding Your Classmates with Autism

Tips for Understanding Your Classmates with Autism

When you go to school, you will notice that everyone is different. Sometimes, these differences make it hard to talk to a classmate. Autism is one reason that one in about every 44 students you see each day is not exactly like everyone else. To help, the Autism Hero Awards explains more about what autism is and how to be a good friend to classmates who have this diagnosis.

What Is Autism?

Autism is something that can affect a person’s ability to communicate. Someone with autism might have trouble looking you in the eyes when they talk. Sometimes, they might not talk at all. Some children who have autism might flap their hands around or rock in their chairs, and this can be scary to other kids. But you should know that their behavior is not without reason. Kids with autism can be overwhelmed by the things happening around them. Lights might feel too bright and sounds might be too loud. The rocking, shaking, or tapping — sometimes even yelling or crying — is how they cope with too much input coming into their senses.

One way to understand how they might feel is to think back to a time when your mom or dad turned your light on while you were still asleep. When you opened your eyes, the light was probably uncomfortable. Your first reaction might have been to cover your head, close your eyes tightly, and put your hands over your face. Children with autism might feel this way all the time, and they try to fight these feelings by moving repetitively. It is interesting to note that the same reflex that makes your eyes hurt has been studied as a way to diagnose autism in children.

How Can Parents Help?

There are a lot of ways children with autism can get help from their parents. First, parents will let their teachers know that their child has autism. At home, they might do things like keep their house quiet and avoid painting the walls really bright colors that could hurt the child’s eyes and make it hard to concentrate. Parents often focus on making their homes as stress-free and relaxing as possible for their autistic children. Even simple things like getting rid of clutter or adding greenery (plants and flowers) can make a place far more inviting and comfortable for children with ASD.

Children with autism sometimes have trouble sleeping in their own beds or can’t sleep at all. When this happens, their parents might look for ways to make them comfortable in their bedroom so that they can rest. Children who don’t get enough sleep can be really cranky!

Getting to Know a Child with Autism

If you go to school with a child who has autism, take the time to get to know him or her. You might find that he or she is really interesting. In fact, children with autism or Asperger’s, which is a former term for a level of autism, have a lot in common with geniuses, and are sometimes better able to remember details about things better than everybody else. Don’t be afraid to talk to your classmates, even if they don’t talk like everybody else. It’s easy to misunderstand someone you don’t know. Try to remember that, to them, you are the one who’s different.

The National Autistic Society has a lot of great information about autism, and your own parents and school counselor can help you learn even more. There are even TV shows with characters who have autism. Ask your parents if you can watch an episode; it’s a fun way to learn something new about a misunderstood condition.

Remember, no two people are the same. It is our differences that make us unique. Just like you might be taller – or shorter – than everyone else, someone with autism has their own set of characteristics that makes them the person they are. And if you’re patient, you might be able to get to know that person and make a new friend.

The Autism Hero Awards proudly acknowledges and celebrates people and their accomplishments in the world of Autism. Learn more by exploring our site.

Image via Pixabay

Putting your legs up against a wall does wonders for your body and mind!

Antibullying Week – yet the effects of bullying can last a lifetime…

Antibullying Week – yet the effects of bullying can last a lifetime…

An article by our Well-being Ambassador Giuliana Wheater and her video!

What is bullying?

What can we do about it?

Bullying is HUGELY on the rise, amongst young people in particular , especially since Covid.

Cyber bullying has become a significant part of that .

So much increased time on screens and the enforced of human contact have a definite part to play in this as figures have SOARED in the last couple of years.

Last week I touched on a little of the horrific cyberbullying I recently endured, but the number of young people who are filling my sessions at the moment are full of the most hurtful, humiliating, damaging stories of their own . Being bullied as a child is even scarier, and as a neurodivergent child almost impossible to navigate .

Victims are often too terrified to speak out for fear of further retribution .

Yet as adults we really do need to be aware and schools need to have firm anti bullying policies and be made to walk their talk in seeing them through .

  • Keep a timeline and diary of every single act of bullying .
  • If the school don’t act or make you feel like you’ve got to move your child away, take it to the governors .
  • If this doesn’t work take it to the police.

In England and Wales you can receive a criminal record from the age of 10.

In some states of America it is from the age of 7.

Bullying is any or all of the following :

  1. Calling names or teasing.
  2. Being put down or humiliated.
  3. Being threatened or intimidated.
  4. Being kicked, hit of physically hurt.
  5. Spreading rumours or using degrading/humiliating photos or information with the intent to harm. Spreading harmful stories.
  6. Trying to control or manipulate someone
  7. Setting up fake online profiles to stalk and/or harass.
  8. Taking away/messing about with someone’s money or possessions .
  9. Following/stalking someone.
  10. Ignoring someone of leaving them out.
  11. Making fun of someone.

Remember that cyber bullying is even easier to gain evidence for and the police have a duty to act.

All you need are 2 examples of harassment, stalking or the posting of malicious/untrue rumours or lies or using blackmail… and everything is retrievable even if the bully deletes it .

High Tech Police Units can retrieve it all.

As I say in this week’s YouTube video, a bully is someone who sees the potential in you which you can’t see”.

Walking away from/turning a blind eye is as bad as condoning it.

Filming it on your phone to circulate it makes you even worse .

Just remember that we are all human beings with stories and journeys inside us.

I will leave you with this ; they are all people I personally know or know of …

“The boy you punched in the hall today. He committed suicide a few minutes ago.

The boy you called lame has to work every night to supper his family.

The girl you pushed down the stairs the other day is already being abused at home.

The girl you called fat. She is starving herself.

The old man you made fun of because of his ugly scars. He fought for our country.

The boy you made fun of for crying. his mother is dying.”

Bullying will not suddenly end on Sunday.

Bullying is 365 days a year, and for many victims a loving purgatory which can lead go self-harm, severe depression and even suicide in later life.

Do you really want that on your conscience?

We need more awareness, more kindness, more humanity.

Let’s take that strong message away from this week if nothing else.

Take care everyone, Lots of love, Giuliana xx

https://www.therapiesforspecialneeds.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/482455567249684/?ref=share_group_link

https://www.facebook.com/groups/rainbowtherapieskidsandfamilies/?ref=share_group_link

Antibullying Week - yet the effects of bullying can last a lifetime…
Antibullying Week - yet the effects of bullying can last a lifetime…
Antibullying Week - yet the effects of bullying can last a lifetime…
Putting your legs up against a wall does wonders for your body and mind!

Cyber bullying, the law and how to protect yourself and your mental health

Cyber bullying, the law and how to protect yourself and your mental health

 

An article by our Well-being Ambassador Giuliana Wheater and her video!

Cyber bullying is massively on the rise and very prevalent in our society now, particularly since Covid.

It is now estimated that a huge 42% of young people aged 25 and under are, or have recently been, cyber bullied.

Before I begin giving you strategies to help you protect yourself if this is happening to you or someone you love , I would first like to thank you all with every part of me for having been so patient whilst I have been “away”.

I have recently been a victim of cyber bullying and trolling myself.

The effect on my work but also my mental health has been immense .

During this time I have also been completely inundated with emails and client sessions where people are being cyber bullied.

It is rife.

It is horrific if you are neurotypical but even harder to navigate if you are autistic/ neurodivergent.

So, I feel I have been given this painful chapter to walk as a learning …

And this learning I now want to share with you so that you know what to do of this ever happens to you , and to know that this very cowardly form of bullying is not only unacceptable but carries consequences within the law .

Incredibly there is no law directly relating to cyber bullying within the UK.

However the one enormous benefit of cyber bullying is that absolutely everything, even if the perpetrator deletes it, leaves a digital footprint.

This makes evidence for the police much easier to pursue than verbal or face to face bullying .

As I explain in this week’s video, Cyber Bullying includes trolling , setting up fake profiles (cyber fraud ), stalking , harassment , deliberately sharing threatening of harmful messages/information, maliciously attacking or harassing someone, or “baiting online “ (using the internet to deliberately provoke get a rise out of others)

It also includes “mounting a full on hateful attack that wreaks havoc on your mental health “.

And these offences ARE punishable by laws.

So how can you keep yourself or your child safe?

Firstly, keep a timeline of each event including screenshot evidence.

The police only need TWO pieces of evidence to open a case.

If someone is using a fake email address or fake Facebook profile, this comes under Cyber Fraud as well as stalking and harassment, which ARE punishable within UK laws.

There are now new trolling laws in place due to the virulent rise in this offence.

There are also other laws to protect you and within which the police have a duty to act.

The Malicious Communications Act of 1988 and the Communications Act of 2003. Offences under this act carry a prison sentence of up to 6 months , a fine of up to £5000 , or both.

“It is an offence for any person to send or post a communication that is indecent or offensive for the purpose of causing distress or anxiety to another.”

The Act also includes “threats and information which is false and known to be false by the sender of this communication.”

Criminal offences have been added to the Online Safety Bill too for those who deliberately share threatening or harmful messages / information/posts . This carries up to 5 years imprisonment.

Protection from Harassment Act 1997

“It is a criminal offence for a person to pursue a code of conduct which amounts to the harassment of another with the intention of causing harm or distress on at least two occasions.”

Section 4 of this Act “provides greater punishment to those found guilty of causing another person to fear on at least two occasions.”

So please, do not feel alone.

Bullying can be incredibly frightening and isolating.

But there are laws to protect you and there are things you can do to ensure your safety and to limit the long term impact on your mental health .

So please take everyone and please know that you are never on your own.

Lots of love, Giuliana

https://www.therapiesforspecialneeds.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/482455567249684/?ref=share_group_link

 

Mindfulness for meltdowns
Cyber bullying, the law and how to protect yourself and your mental health
Cyber bullying, the law and how to protect yourself and your mental health
Cyber bullying, the law and how to protect yourself and your mental health
Cyber bullying, the law and how to protect yourself and your mental health
Cyber bullying, the law and how to protect yourself and your mental health
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