She asked if we could do what she "asked about in the car" a few minutes after we got home. I pretended that I had no idea what she was talking about. She got pouty. And then lighting quick it turned to ANGRY! She ripped up the magazine she was holding, ran in her room and ripped up a notebook. She grabbed scissors and said she felt like cutting her finger open. She cut another piece of her hair instead (second time doing this recently).
I got her calmed down pretty quickly and we had a good talk about the trigger. She'd been really stressed out at the after school club because she felt like BFF wasn't paying her enough attention. When I pretended I didn't know what she was talking about, she felt ignored. If I'm ignoring her I'm not keeping her safe. I'm glad she was able to talk to me about it once she was calm and I totally get why she was upset, but the speed at which she lost it was scary. We've seen that a couple times in the last few weeks.
I worried about her all that evening and through most of the weekend. Then I remembered that we had run out of Niacin a few weeks before and I still hadn't bought more. I bought some and started giving it to her again on Saturday. I don't know if that has anything to do with the intense, speedy anger, but I sure hope so. ***Fingers crossed***
Be gone, Anger Monster.
Do you have any experience with "canalising" the anger, like setting aside chipped plates (wrapped in a towel) or old bottles for the purpose of destroying? Or old magazines (phone books) for the purpose of tearing? Or a bucket of water for the purpose of throwing it all over oneself or over the plants in the garden? Or start digging a hole in the garden (violent movements & bodyly activity)
ReplyDeleteOr a bit of pepper (lemon) to have a sharp (sour) feeling on the tongue that hurts a bit but is not harmful? Or suggest, if she wants, to let cold water over her wrists.
Do those ways of canalising help or do they tend to make it worse overall?