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Question 77: I have two girls with TS. Both lately
have increase their vocabulary with swearing quite frequently. I tell
them to stop or find another word but this does not happen. How can
they control their rage attacks as well as the swearing. I e-mail
your site to various friends or people who are uneducated hoping to
enlighten them. Other wise if they chose not to associate with us
it's their loss. J.D., USA.
Rage is
very difficult for an individual to control once one is lost in it --
preventative strategies are much preferred. A number of these are listed
in a handout I have on my website at www.lifesatwitch.com/helpful.html
(click on Techniques for Dealing with the Overstimulated or Overaroused
Individual).
In terms
of swearing, remember that this is a symptom and, in terms of inhibiting
it completely and with 100% effectiveness, they "would if they
could". Symptom Negotiation is a technique that I teach in one
of my presentations (Develop
a Disordered Mindframe I): in essence it is important to work out compromises
that will make symptoms more appropriate for the situation yet still
provide some satiation of the urge. In your particular example, saying
a completely different word or stopping outright may not 'scratch that
itch' at all, whereas writing the word down rather than saying it, saying
words that rhyme with the swear word, saying the word but into your
hand quietly so no one else can hear, etc. all might be other options
to explore with your daughters. There are a number of important aspects
and 'rules' around Symptom Negotiation that increase its effectiveness
-- if it is at all possible for you to attend one of my upcoming
presentations I would recommend this. Otherwise you might want to
pass my booking details onto your daughters'
school board to see if they would be interested in having me speak.
Thank
you for recommending my site to others -- I am flattered that you feel
it has important information to share, and applaud the strength of character
you show in seeing ignorant others as being the truly 'disordered' ones!
