My 10 yr old - who is lovingly referred to as my wolf child - is still not able to communicate immediate "don't touch me" needs with words.
2 or 3 weeks ago, the physical therapist was nearly bit (but I did keep our jaws clamped) when she made sudden movements near my face without telling me.
Today, she was only not bit because WC couldn't have reached her. The pt had my arm extended above my head (i'm on my back) and with her other hand pinched (I'm assuming tried to release the muscle) of the underarm from just above the breast and up. It hurt, tickled, and triggered. WC turned her head sharply, cat-hissed, and then I put my hand over my body, then over the pt's hand (I think she was trying to talk me through it, but all I could hear was white noise in my head), then I felt my fingertips go to nails, and STILL she didn't stop, so WC put pressure on those fingernails. That worked, of course. PT said "Don't claw me!" and I said "Don't do that!" I don't think PT was really mad at us - and she knows we're multiple as of two weeks ago (even tho she noticed long before I told her)- and told us a funny story of her getting her legs waxed, kicking the lady, and the lady saying "There will be no kicking". We both laughed and the moment eased (which could have easily gone into panic). But still.... There's this whole "use words" thing that isn't coming across.
I don't know what to do. Well, I need to remind the pt to TELL me every move she is going to make before she does it, and to stay away from my face (and neck motion range). When things happen fast, the instinct is faster than the frontal cortex word-oriented brain. WC is fast. She's gotten many people to get out of her space quickly. But it's never been a problem with professionals or kids until this year. (I do take an Ativan before each teaching session and have my student sit where I can see her hand motions - so I can be WC's eyes so her teeth don't act first.)
When the pt took me to the same equipment where WC nearly bit her last time and told me to do the same exercise, I told her "Don't poke me!" She said "I won't - I'll stand over here", and stood 4 feet from me. Evidently she remembered all too well what nearly happened last time.
I just don't know what to do :/ When tension comes up I remind WC "use words". But in her mind, I'm the one who is supposed to use words - not her.
I think I did rather well with all the warnings I gave off before we clawed the pt (and we didn't really hurt her, didn't scratch her, just got her attention).
Thoughts?