Tag Archives: serotonin

Lessons Learned in the Autism Room: Hug Healing

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One of our little boys in the Autism Room hugs so hard I fear my ribs could crack. He wraps his arms around my neck and his legs around my belly and squeezes with every ounce of strength he possesses until his limbs actually shake from the effort. Do I mind? Not at all.

If it was possible to do his lessons and routines in this position I would let him hug all day. Why? Because his body becomes over-stimulated and his muscles are extremely tight, so the hugging pressure helps him relax. Sometimes we attempt wrapping him in a compression vest (a vest made from lightweight neoprene that fits tightly around his upper body), but that can only be for a short period of time, and while some of his peers enjoy it, he does NOT. If we manage to get the Velcro sides in place (not an easy task on a squirming, protesting child) he will still take it right off unless we cover it with a paint shirt. We also try rhythmically compressing his arms, legs, fingers, and shoulders one joint at a time. Thankfully, he doesn’t seem to mind this process. Another technique we sometimes try is letting him push his way through the Squeeze Machine (sets of rollers a child crawls through that make him feel squeezed like he’s being wrung through a clothes ringer) in the occupational therapy room. All of these methods help, but hugs are a clear winner.

My small friend has taught me the power of a really good hug. I’m not talking the token side hug or the three pats on the back (though these are better than nothing). I mean a good heart to heart squeeze. Virginia Satir, a family therapist, says, “We need four hugs a day for survival. We need eight hugs a day for maintenance. We need twelve hugs a day for growth.”

Here are 7 benefits of a good hug:

  1. Hugs relax muscles and release tension
  2. Hugs boost oxytocin levels, easing feelings of loneliness and anger
  3. Hugs build trust and a sense of safety
  4. Hugs boost self-esteem
  5. Hugs increase serotonin levels, increasing happiness
  6. Hugs help us be present in the moment
  7. Hugs teach us to give and receive

I give lots of hugs in the Autism Room, but when I walk out the door, my hug quota drops significantly. My goal is to increase my hug quality and quantity. Do you need a hug?

Pump in the Good

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Chain reaction tantrums in the autism classroom can be overwhelming. There are times where one child’s screams can set off even the calmest classmate and it’s hard to regain instructional control. When the tension is mounting, we dim the lights and turn on the music. Soothing melodies mingle with the yelling until eventually the cries diminish and peace is restored.

After being a music teacher and a private piano teacher for many years, I’ve witnessed and experienced the influence of music. But the power of music is also based on fact. Studies show that soothing music helps your body release serotonin (a hormone that increases happiness and a sense of well-being), dopamine (a neurotransmitter that makes you feel good), and norepinephrine (a hormone that brings about euphoria).

Here’s the point where we should be careful. Music has grown very diverse. There is a style bound to please everyone. I enjoy a wide variety, and listen to different music for different situations. But have you ever listened to a song that brought you down low? There are some songs that pound in lyrics filled with despair and negative thoughts. I’ve deleted discouraging/degrading songs off my daughters’ sound cloud—losing parenting points from them I’m sure. Why pump in something that will weigh us down and add to depression?

Music isn’t the only thing that has amazing potential if we use good judgment. Books and people have the power to be uplifting (or depressing) as well. I’m thankful that there are self-help books for nearly every problem I could encounter. Non-fiction and fiction can both encourage (or discourage) us. I’m also grateful for all of the positive people in my life who rub off on me. I need to seek them out even more. People with negative attitudes are infectious too, so I strive to avoid absorbing their discontent.

Now it’s time to unwind with some classical music. Maybe it will get the “A is for Apple” song from the autism room out of my head.

 

 

 

Calm Crankiness

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One of our autistic students came back from a long weekend and was tired and cranky. When I say cranky, I mean he cried and threw tantrums for three hours. Multiple people tried to step in and soothe the poor little guy, but he would have none of it. All our breathing techniques, squeezing and hand rubbing were failing. Attempts to distract fell flat. The other students were covering their ears and getting stressed. So were the adults. Our room is rarely quiet, but oh my.

Finally, it was time for recess. I managed to thread his arms through his jacket sleeves and coax him out the door. It was windy, and at first he refused to budge and just fumed on the sidewalk. Kids galloped past him. I held his hand and we started walking around the playground. His tears slowed. We walked faster. His tears stopped. Eventually he let go of my hand and began running around on his own. When we finally bustled back into the classroom, his tantrum had ended and he was able to start learning. Thank the Lord.

Now there are no guarantees that exercise will calm every storm, but it wasn’t all by chance. Research shows that exercise causes changes in different chemical levels in the body, which can have an effect on our psychological state. Endorphins increase, giving us a positive feeling that fights depression. Exercise also boosts the neurotransmitter serotonin, helping us keep calm.

So when we start feeling down, a walk or workout can do wonders. Our mind set can change, helping us regain a positive attitude.