#people react differently

[cas-backwards-tie]

Why am I only now realizing the reason I get in trouble so often when I’m uncomfortable is because I smile when I’m nervous?

[kaleid-tay-scope]

Thank you, mutual anon. 😬

I used to be a behavioral therapist so that part of my brain doesn't turn-off. If I see something like that I instinctively just defend their behavior as being a part of their dx. Not everything is for attention or escaping their classroom..... Sometimes it's deeper than misbehavior. Sometimes it's mental illness but sometimes it's sexual assault reflecting in that manner.

Some of my clients would bite me, scratch, pinch, blow snot on me and I'd just have to hold them until they stopping aggressing. I let them know that they are safe and however their four to six year old self behaves in the face of their trauma and dx's that they are worth protecting and loving. I'll never forget the moments when they stopped the constant fight/flight/freeze reactions and come next appointment I was met with a different child than the scared one. I was met with bright eyes and laughter.

I'm not one for seeing people's reactions as one dimensional. Maybe if I never became disabled I'd become cynical? But I'm older and I worked with children and adult students for thirteen years and I never once thought the worst of them. I always saw them with eyes looking into their minds and hearts. I hope that knew that.