She's Back

Hannah's meltdowns continue to decrease in severity and frequency, though we're still far from normal. Frankly, I don't expect that normal and Solomon will ever be used in the same sentence.

Lately her meltdowns consist of any combination of stomping, screaming, biting herself, pulling her hair and/or banging her head on the wall. They often begin abruptly, precipitated by something as benign as NOT being the one to turn off a light, close the curtain...or even to flush the toilet (regardless of who used the toilet).

Ending the meltdowns has been an uncontrollable mystery. She might carry on for fifteen minutes, or we might distract her quickly enough that the meltdown ends in seconds. Lately, though, the scenario has gone something like this:

Carl takes off his own shoes without letting Hannah untie them. Hannah consequently screams and hits herself on the head, but is not soothed by anything obvious, such as stopping the shoe removal and allowing her to help. Carl defines it as Severe Disrobing Anxiety. Whatever. By the time Carl begins the shoe removal process without considering Hannah, Hannah has entered an entirely separate realm, a realm with laws and consequences that I have yet to learn.

The new element is this: Hannah suddenly stops screaming, filling the room with silence broken only by her anxious breaths. She then approaches the nearest adult and says, "I'm back." After that she's calm, as if nothing happened.

Back from where???

If only Hannah's little realm had a name or some written law I could follow. Alas, no. She travels and returns, while I remain here, baffled and helpless.

But at least she comes "back."