An up and down week

He is displaying more nervous body language and is quicker to react.

I think it is hitting a little harder as we'd been having a good run.

Since my parents' visit, George had continued to look more confident and had been reacting less. We'd been able to tolerate triggers at a distance - a cyclist went past him the other day and he wasn’t bothered at all!

We've had a couple of very successful beach walks with friends recently where he was able to ignore dogs in the distance.

So it feels like a bit of a step backwards this week.

I think there are a few contributing factors.

We've changed our routine to work in a different space on work from home days (see 'A little change in routine'). Although he has been doing quite well on the whole, the change might have unsettled him more than I thought.

We've been unlucky with triggers. Daycare drop-offs have taken up to 20 minutes while we waited for a clear space. Children were playing at the edge of the SniffSpot. Dogs were barking near another SniffSpot. We had a cat in the garden. We had an off-leash dog come and say hello (this was a big trigger). On the same walk, we bumped into someone we know who talked to us. We've had the neighbours at the back have the light on more often.

When I reflect on the triggers he has experienced recently, it's not surprising he is finding it more difficult.

I'd been feeling really optimistic and confident prior to this week. As he has been making progress, it was difficult not to get carried away and assume everything will continue to be smooth sailing from now on.

So this week is quite disheartening. I just need to remember that learning is not linear, that setbacks are normal, and that we have not lost the progress we have already made.

I called this post an 'up and down week' as there are still 'ups' compared to where we were. Thanks to the medication, when he does react, his reactions are shorter and he settles more quickly. He is still OK to leave the house and is toileting in the garden with no issues.

I just need to continue to take it slowly and only visit a few familiar places at quiet times. Do lots of calming enrichment activities at home and try our best to avoid triggers. We might also have an extra rest day for the next couple of weeks.