My daughter is struggling with transitions. She has done amazingly well since starting back to school and school have seen her true colours and confidence.
She is amazing at getting the bus to school and getting off and meeting staff on the walk towards school to walk in when them. She is in school before other students and school have reported she is so happy, confident and just so bubbly and see the said she doesn't show very often.
When students come into school she is more withdrawn and quiet but can show an interest in her peers. The first few days are the hardest, but usually she is just amazing and so happy to be back and then she starts struggling. She has become overwhelmed and has shutdown multiple times, a few had a quick recovery. She has run from staff which is normal for her and for no apparent reason.
She struggles with the transition home because she loves school so much. This then affects her day, struggling with any activities. Today they went to a wildlife park, she didn't want to go first but then a student asked her and she was like yes (she likes interacting with peers, especially this one in particular). She was then fine, lunch time came and she was struggling but ok then started becoming overwhelmed and shutdown. After she starting walking away from staff and continued shutting down but made a pretty quick recovery and continued with her day.
After they went back to school and I believe she was struggling and the more closer it became to come home she was shutting down more and more, felt dizzy and faint (hasn't eaten or drunk anything). An hour and a bit after students left, she walked to the bus stop with staff but was reported to be really unwell and out of it, wobbling everywhere. She then walked away from the bus stop and was completely out of it, not responding to much. I had to pick her up because I was also in the area.
She is now better but is still really dysregulated in and out of meltdown mode, because I feel like she couldn't complete her routine of getting the bus, didn't fully understand what was going on and because she loves school and doesn't like being away from it, it's kind of her special interest.
I feel useless because I'm watching her cry and struggle. I asked her what I can do to help and she always replies with keep everyone away and don't talk to me, also you can't help because there isn't anything you can do to help. It's sad but I'm taking everyone out the house so she can have some space. Any ideas on what can help her? She is in control but her emotions are running high, constantly in flight or fight mode. Repeating herself but she's so out of it she doesn't make sense.
