child withdraws and gets completely frozen

[christinadc0527]

I have a  student (3rd grader) who will completely shut down and freeze at times.  In a matter of 2 seconds she can go from being content to frozen wherever she is sitting or standing, even if it's in the middle of the hallway with people surrounding her.  She will not talk, make eye contact or hold anything you give to her, except a tissue if she is crying.  Usually she will cover her face.  So far it seems like it happens when she feels like she might be in trouble.  Once she was supposed to recite a Bible verse (something that happens every Friday) but she hadn't studied and she came up to my desk and froze.   Another time a recess aid asked her to give someone their ball back.  Letting her know she's not in trouble and no one is upset isn't helpful.  These freezing episodes can last up to 2 hours.  The only thing that has worked in getting her out of it is to make her laugh or distract her.  I have used puppets, tried to get her to feed the class pet, danced like an idiot, read to her, drew a picture and tried to get her to finish it, written a silly story with her in it, and once had to call her mom when we went over the 2 hour mark.  All of these remedies might work but after a loooooong time.  Today when she was fine I tried to ask her if she knows why she freezes or how I can help her when it happens.  I also gave her a feelings journal to use if she wants and a special place she could put it if she wants me to read something she wrote.  The five minute conversation made her freeze for an hour.  

She has a history of sexual abuse (about age 2) and some new family members have recently been introduced into her life, one of which is an alcoholic. As far as I can tell, she is lucid during these episodes.  She hears me, she knows where she is, she just cant or refuses to respond.  

I know she needs counseling.  It has already been suggested but I cant force the family to take her.  
1. How else can I help her snap out of it faster?
2. Can these episodes be prevented?
3.  Am I doing a bad thing by always being silly or distracting her to snap her out of it?  Obviously there is an underlying issue that isn't being addressed.  

Please help!  Any feedback is appreciated.

[CG24]

Some victims of child abuse or sexual abuse escape the memories or pain by disassociating.  You can google that and see if it fits.  They seem to be freezing or staring into space.  We all dissasociate at times - normal times are watching tv, even driving.  But freezing or spacing out as an escape ususally requires therapy.
Hope that helps.

[margypops]

Doesnt that feel good when you know you have helped and are helping and child and her Mom, too often we dont hear about the caring teachers and caregivers it is so good and heart warning when we do, I love the success stories and it sounds as if you are helping make one happen,,

[christinadc0527]

Just a quick update.  We had the meeting with the student's mom and it seems like these episodes are happening at home too, but maybe on a smaller scale.  Mom was shy and scared, much like her daughter, and said her daughter doesn't talk to her much or open up to her at all.  Mom's thought is that now that her daughter is older she is seeing mom's mood swings and stress more and is picking up on it and is more aware of what's going on.  But the same behaviors that my student experiences, her mother experiences as well.    My student is going to start counseling once a week starting Monday and we're going to have her evaluated by the Child Study Team to see if there is a learning problem as well.  

[christinadc0527]

Thank you for all of the replies and support.  I'm having a meeting Monday with the principal so we can decide what we need to say to mom.  I'll let you know how it goes!

[margypops]

As you said in your fisrt post you cannot force conselling onto the Mom, but more important is what you are doing now rather than trying to enforce and possibly alienating the Mom, the child benefits this way ,Baby steps, you are doing well...

[cjulie101]

This sounds a lot like what my 7 year son does at school.  The only difference is he has never been sexual abused, his home environment is very stable.  At school he has these "meltdowns" he will start crying uncontrollably and cannot get himself to stop. He will cover his head with his jacket and refuses to talk to anyone.  Once you do get him to finally talk he doesn't know why he does it.  Sometimes he will give us some sort of excuse, but mainly the episodes happen when he feels he is in trouble, or he has lost at a game, If things aren't going the EXACT way he has pictured in his mind it just throws him into a world wind of emotions and starts having a "meltdown".  He also have trouble with school work.   I have a great network of people at school and home who have been working with him.  The school councler, the principal, his speech therapist, his teacher, the school psychologist and a behavioral interventionist is now being called in.

My son was diagnosed with Social Anxiety and ADHD- Inattentive Type about a year ago.   Two months ago we also received the diagnosis of Autism (mild), Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder and ADHD- Mixed Type.

My son has seen out side of school his pediatrician, a psychologist, a psychiatrist, has been to a Child Assessment Center to be tested for learning disabilities and he has also seen a pediatric neurologist.  My son takes Zoloft for the Anxiety and OCPD, and Vyvanse for the ADHD. These medicines have helped but they definitely are not a cure as he still has quite a few meltdowns.    

I would suggest that the mom have her daughter seen by a Pediatric Neurologist. We have been dealing with these issues since he was in Kindergarten and we are still struggling to make him "snap out" of it faster. His longest episode at school has been about 3 1/2 hours long. I hope that my story can help you guide your student's mom in the right direction for getting the help her daughter needs.

[margypops]

Excuse my keyboard it has its own way of spelling, I meant' in our Heart'

[margypops]

You are so great to think of this to help this little girl, this is what teaching is all about aswell as the learning part its about caring and you do ,what a brilliant idea, I am sure you will tease her from her shell, Yes Baby steps... well done you have my admiration. Let us know how she gets on it is very interesting for us with children in out heart.

[christinadc0527]

Some good news -- I left the feelings journal in her desk and wrote a little note in it.  I also ripped out the page that said feelings journal on it.  I thought that's what make her freeze the day before.  Not only did she write in it, she wanted me to read it and she rewrote "my feelings journal"  at the top of the page.  :)  Baby steps.  

[margypops]

Sounds like you need some help here from another teacher or the principle, poor little girl she has turned to you for help,have you a social worker attached to your school for feedback and maybe her Mom will have to seek further help for her,do you know anything about how she is treated at home by the Mom or siblings? She needs some time aswell I believe and I think you have a lot of patience maybe this could be your project to continue as you have done, and play a waiting game.

[christinadc0527]

I think she went to a counselor but mom stopped taking her because she refused to talk and didn't want to go.  Dad is in jail, she lives with her mom and little brother.  Mom is totally overworked and overwhelmed.  

I agree about the attention, but I'm not sure of what else to do.  I can't move her.  If I hold her hand or anything to guide her she tenses her muscles and pulls against me.  If she's frozen with her head down at her desk it's one thing but if she's standing in the hall or at a lunch table it's quite another.  She NEEDS to move because people are staring and I have 13 other kids.  Luckily I have a classroom aide.

Thanks for the reply.  More help welcome!

[jdtm]

I suspect this child is suffering from severe anxiety.  If anxiety is the issue, you will not be able to "snap her out of it faster".  If anxiety is the issue, the only way to prevent these episodes is to "lessen the anxiety" and frankly, I think professional help will be required for this child to learn how to cope in perceived, stressful situations.  No, by being silly or disracting her, you are not doing a bad thing but I might suggest that you try removing her from the environment/situation with patience and kindness to see if this might be a better solution (perhaps to a quiet corner of the classroom or office).  If anxiety is the issue, this child will not know why she acts this way and I doubt very much if she can prevent it.  That is why she will require professional help - to learn how to manage her fears/anxieties.

She requires professional help - child neurologist, child psychiatrist, child psychologist or similar medical professionals.  Does your school have any psychological or mental health resources - someone who can speak to the parents about this issue?  if not, then I guess it might have to be the principal who needs to speak to the parents.  School staff cannot solve anxiety issues alone.

By the way, if the child is unable to speak, then the correct term is "selective mutism" - which is a severe form of anxiety.  The best site on the internet for information is "selectivemutism.org".  Although most children who are selectively mute suffer from (by inheriting) a severe form of social anxiety, there are a few who are "mute" due to trauma.  It is important that this child get help.  If anxiety is the issue, this child will not outgrow it nor will it go away.  I wish you the best ....

[RockRose]

If she has had a documented history of sexual abuse,  it seems like she must have a counselor or social worker assigned to her case.  What is her family situation - is she in foster care?

I also think,  on the other hand,  that she is getting an inordinate amount of attention for freezing up.  Maybe if you could discuss with her her "safe place" where if she freezes up she goes there to calm herself down,  and don't give her any attention at all for being there.  Just direct here there,  even by leading her by the hand,  and ignore her once she's sitting there until she rejoins the group.

I really do think this merits a meeting with the school counselor and her parents and you to find out what support she is getting at home.

Best wishes.  You sounds like a very caring teacher.