Kieron Lee talks New Single ‘M&M’

Feb 14, 2023 | Mental Health and wellbeing Campaign

M&M is the most challenging song I have ever had to write. I was in the worst place. It’s about being used and taken advantage of, It’s about being in a position you never thought you would be in, and then suddenly, everything else around me began to fall apart; I fell apart. It felt like the world had ended. All that kept running through my head was, could I possibly hurt anymore? I’ve struggled with anxiety and depression most of my life; on top of autism and ADHD, the world is so overwhelming, and I often feel like everyone is out to get me, and when I fall apart, it’s mum that sheds her light, warmth and love. My mum is my rock, my world, and the woman I live and breathe for. She gives me the determination and strength to fight when I feel I have none. The one who showed me that my powers and gifts of being autistic are extraordinary, who dedicated her life (and still does EVERY DAY) to raise, fight and protect me—my best friend. What could hurt more? Living in a world without a mum that would. That would END everything for me. I couldn’t imagine a world without her, where would I be? She’s my number one. I don’t need to be loved by anyone else because mum will always love me.

M&M was released on mum’s birthday, 12th February 2023 and is available for download & purchase on iTunes & Amazon, where a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Anna Kennedy Online. The song is available on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify & Apple Music.

Kieron Lee’s clothing line of ACRONYMS is available through Born Anxious and donating to Anna Kennedy Online on each purchase.

Spotify – Kieron Lee

Kieron Lee – iTunes & Apple Music

Kieron Lee – Amazon

Follow Kieron’s upcoming album release and journey on:

https://mrkieronlee.org.uk – Kieron Lee official website

Social Media:

https://www.facebook.com/mr.kieronlee/

https://www.instagram.com/mr.kieronlee/

https://www.tiktok.com/@mrkieronlee_

https://twitter.com/mrkieronlee

Charity Ambassador Thomas Henley talks ‘Neurodiverse Relationships’

Feb 14, 2023 | Mental Health and wellbeing Campaign

4 Ways To Improve Your Neurodiverse Relationship 😻

On YouTube, one topic that seems to garner a lot of views is Dating & Relationships. So what are my Top Tips for improving Neurodivergent/Neurotypical relationships? 🤔

1️⃣ Use Personality Tests 🧪

💥 Big 5 + 16 personalities (Myers-Briggs)

💥 Love Language & Attachment Style

💥 Intimacy Needs + Sensory Differences Tests

This will allow you to open up a dialogue between both of you…

Helping you to Identify & Understand how to fulfill each other’s individual NEEDS 🙌🏻

2️⃣ Strong Verbal Communication & Trust 💕

Useful for any relationship, from my experience…

BUT much more key to Mutual Contentment in NT/ND relationships ☺️

There tends to be a lot more Crossed-Wires & difficulty interpreting each other’s Non-Verbal Signs correctly

Establish an Open Dialogue and build TRUST through the following ACTIONS 🗣

3️⃣ Develop an interest in, and ask questions about their Special Interests 🎮

Interests make up a large part of an Autistic persons life…

Their Passion, Relaxer, Anxiety Reliever… an endeavour of Curiosity 📖

Be part of their world, and share information about your own interests 🌍

4️⃣ DON’T Provide Support if you haven’t asked or if this hasn’t been agreed to 🙅🏻‍♂️

It’s important for us to have Independence, to practice Life Skills

Although this may help in the Short-Term…

It can lead to Dependency & Low Self Esteem if done consistently 😓

If they do want help with things you can ask or they will tell you

⚠️ You AREN’T their Carer, you are their Partner ⚠️

Whilst Autistic people may need support in some areas…

It’s important to maintain intimate connection based on Love, Communication and Reciprocation…

💂🏻‍♀️ NOT Care and Duty 💂🏻‍♀️

What are your Top Tips for navigating Neurodiverse Relationships? 💭

https://www.facebook.com/thomashenleyuk

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

Dec 12, 2022 | Mental Health and wellbeing Campaign, News, Resources

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!

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

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

How hanging upside down stimulates the vestibular system – Giuliana Wheater

Dec 5, 2022 | Mental Health and wellbeing Campaign, News, Resources

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 .

The whole nervous system is regulated as the vestibular system provides unique input.
It can be calming or alerting.
PREVENTS MELTDOWNS
Relieved back pain by taking pressure off the discs.
It IMPROVES BRAIN FUNCTION .
IMPROVED EMOTIONAL REGULATION.
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

Setting Healthy Boundaries

Nov 22, 2022 | Anti bullying Campaign, Mental Health and wellbeing Campaign, News, Resources

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.

It’s ok to be upset but not to say hurtful things.
It sounds like you need a bit of space. I am going to wait to listen to you when you’ve finished yelling.
Could you please lower your voice/tone so that I can understand you ?
Could you try to say it in a different way please?
I hear and understand that you’re upset right now but it’s not ok for you to talk to me like this .
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

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

Nov 14, 2022 | Anti bullying Campaign, Mental Health and wellbeing Campaign, News, Resources

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 :

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