Spring fever. Nowadays this is synonymous with behavioral changes or mood swings which coincide with the season. But historically-- you know, 200 to 300 years ago-- spring fever was also known as spring disease because of a common seasonal illness which was actually not allergy-related at all. Symptoms were mild to severe including fatigue & malaise, to bone pain & hemorrhaging of the scalp & gums. Who knew! I wonder if it had to do with poor hygiene & warmer weather meaning people were spending more time together, & therefore contagious diseases had more opportunity to spread? No idea. But now the term is somewhat downgraded & practically slang for simple restlessness. I only ever knew of spring fever in that context & I thought it had to do with a post-winter mindset of people no longer being cooped up.
Until Hayden. Because he has way too many behavioral challenges almost like clockwork this time of year, yet he is not what I would consider cooped up during wintertime. Often times snow or rain or temperatures for that matter, will not stop him from dragging his bike out or playing in & around his shed. Sometimes, because of the weather, I am trying so hard to get him to come back inside that it turns into an argument. This is why his spring-fever-like symptoms never made sense to me-- he's not emerging after being cooped up!
More research & reading taught me it's not just flowers blooming & baby animals coming out of hiding, or the Easter bunny & egg hunts, or families gathering for Elijah at the Seder table. Or maybe you're a glass half empty kind of person & you associate springtime with mud, bugs, pollen, brown grass, & bare trees that have lost their magical winter twinkle. Our surroundings are in limbo & I've learned that research shows especially for people with ADHD, or depression, or bipolar disorder, this time of year can trigger manic episodes or other heightened symptoms even more.
As Hayden's mom I associate springtime with IEP season, also the prerequisite to the one season of the year when his typical daily schedule is abruptly & significantly reduced, & worst of all the season when his behaviors always increase. Personally, daylight savings does not make me feel like I fall back or spring forward, but rather quite the opposite... as if I am falling forward and springing backwards. March Madness, pun intended, would be more accurate.
While the duration of Hayden's behaviors is often less than in his younger years, the frequency really isn't. As far as the severity, that fluctuates. But one major difference versus his childhood is dealing with said behaviors in manhood. And it sucks. It's emotionally draining, & sometimes scary, & needless to say he is not just going to grow out of it-- like teething, or terrible twos, or puberty.
When I started this post I actually had no idea that today is National Son's Day. This observance was started only about five years ago by a mom of sons, who apparently created this because there was already a Daughter's Day. Well, I started this year's National Son's Day with a conversation with one of the behaviorists at Hayden's school. He was sharing some challenges they've had as of late, & I shared some of this seasonal perspective with him... as well as offering whatever possible insight that I could, when said behaviors occur.
Most of you know there are select staff who have supported Hayden similarly in previous schools... the special few who see right through Hayden's behaviors & they know it's not him talking (or worse) & it's not him being destructive. It's that damn gene.
The BCBA shared with me that when he walked Hayden to my car after school on Friday, Hayden said to him-- (something along the lines of--) I know you're just trying to help me. Upon hearing that both my heart & eyes seemed to swell but with a lump of pride in my throat & a cracked voice, I said that was very mature of Hayden. As always I made sure to express my gratitude in keeping the lines of communication open, & also for doing so in such a way that is less reporting & more sharing & brainstorming. Hayden sometimes takes a break by chilling out in his office for a little bit & before we got off the phone the behaviorist said, "I have to admit it's partly selfish. Hayden just makes my day."
From the glass-half-full perspective which I am less likely to recognize this time of year, it is people like this BCBA who give me hope in this world. And maybe even springtime.
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