What Can I Do Without an OT?
Hello!
If you don’t have occupational therapy services close to you, don’t worry. A lot of what I do is not rocket science, especially when it comes to supporting a child’s regulation. I mean this in a loving way. Once you know what neurochemicals are released in the brain and which activities release those neurochemicals, you can essentially do a version of occupational therapy with your child.
Here’s how it works.
There are three main neurochemicals that are used in the brainstem to support regulation. They are serotonin, dopamine, and histamine. Serotonin is released through deep pressure and muscle contraction. Dopmaine is released through deep touch. Histamine is released through head movement, like jumping or spinning.
Serotonin and dopamine together are used to “calm down” an “overwhelmed brainstem.” An overwhelmed brainstem looks like a child who has anxiety, is controlling, has trouble with transitions, and is possibly aggressive.
Histamine is used to “wake up” a “sleepy brainstem.” This sleepy brainstem looks like a child who is hyperactive, similar to a tornado zooming around.
This is an oversimplification as processing breakdowns can occur in parts of the brain above the brainstem, which can create similar “behaviors” in a child.
Here’s the deal.
A child’s brainstem can receive too much histamine or too much dopamine, making them too giggly and wild (dysregulated) or too tired and unmotivated.
If you do not know your child’s regulation pattern, that’s OK. A child can always use serotonin, and lots of it. The activities that release serotonin are those with muscle contraction and deep pressure.
Match your child’s energy. If they are moving, choose an activity that includes moving. If they are stationary, go ahead and give them deep pressure on their arms, legs, and back with your hands or an object, like a pillow.
Set up a place for your child to “crash” into a pile of pillows or onto the couch. This gives the child a lot of that deep pressure while allowing the child to move. You can also provide resistance by having your child push or pull you across the room, with you really holding back. You cannot do too much of either of these activities at any time of day.
Do not just go to a weighted blanket or to a swing because it might not release the neurochemical your child needs for their regulation pattern.
So, to sum up.
Do this every day.
You could do it for 10 seconds or 20 minutes.
Both are great.
Match your child’s energy
Have your child crash into your arms or into a pile of pillow 5 to 30 times
Give your child deep pressure (yes, similar to a massage) when they are stationary for 10 seconds or more
This is a jumping off point.
Regulation processing, regulation activities, and assessing processing breakdowns is more nuanced than this, but these activities should help.
For more support, reach out or check out what Life Unboxed has to offer.
Talk soon,
Natalie
