Note: For the back story to this post, please read this.
Back when Ryan’s problematic obsession with hockey had to do with typing standings over and over to the point they upset him, I asked him why he did it. I always want to understand the logic behind his behaviors to the extent he can explain it to me.
He couldn’t offer much more than “I just like the standings,” in this case, but he also told me something else: “The teams are my friends.”
That remark stuck with me. I believe he meant that he enjoyed knowing about all 30 NHL teams, their records, their geographic locations, etc. But the comment bothered me, because I would prefer Ryan had, you know, real human friends — something that has always been a struggle for him.
To put a positive spin on something that upset me, I tried to look at it another way. Hockey, with its ability to bring our family together, give us a common bond and glorious blocks of time spent together, was a friend to all of us.
It’s what makes this week’s development so upsetting. Hockey has turned on us. The last four nights have followed the same pattern. As time for the first puck drop nears, Ryan grows increasingly anxious. He doesn’t eat. He doesn’t want to watch. Last night, his San José Sharks had a rare 7 p.m. ET start, but Ryan did not watch. He fought the urge to check the game stats every couple of minutes. We made him stick to a once-every-15-minutes limit.
Though he struggled with the limits, it wasn’t as bad as it had been the last few nights. It was enough for us to call it progress. But I had to push a lot of dark thoughts away to see it as such. Ryan begged to go to bed early, not because he was tired, but because being asleep relieves him of worrying about numbers that he cannot control.
The Devils have a home game Friday night. We normally never miss a weekend home game, but we will not attend this one. To do so would be torture for Ryan. We asked Riley if she wanted to go alone with one of us but she doesn’t. Asked why, she said that hockey is our family activity and if it can’t be a family outing she doesn’t want to go. I hurt for her and am immensely proud of her at the same time.
Riley is taking all of this very hard. She worries about her brother. She hates to see him in a panicky state. I’m sure it affects her in other ways: seeing her parents visibly upset, not receiving the share of our attention she deserves, the loss of simple normalcy as each evening becomes a battle against this unseen demon.
Worse, it’s a demon that has attacked the very glue that holds our family together, our common bond and the thing that puts us all on an equal footing. Suddenly our decision to renew our Devils season tickets for next year looks like a foolish one. I find myself wishing the season would hurry up and end.
That’s the most painful aspect of this latest crisis. Though I believe that with the proper support this too shall pass, any happiness we have enjoyed as a family courtesy of hockey feels like it came an awful long time ago.
Hockey, which Ryan not long ago loved to the point of calling the teams his friends, has become an enemy. And it feels an awful lot like being stabbed in the back.
Pucks and Puzzle Pieces 
I’m so sorry you guys are going through this stretch. Fingers crossed that it passes very soon.
LikeLike
Thank you. Support is much appreciated.
LikeLike
i would encorage you to look outside hockey for the source of the problem. academically, this is a time of year when demands increase as learning objectives involve preparing students to transition to the next grade. ither outside demands or pressures may be causing ryan go try to exert control in other areas as a way to calm himself and relieve tension. your mileage may vary, but we have seen this pattern over and over with our child. find ways for him to relieve tension physically, ask the school if demands have increased & could they be temporarily scaled back while he regains some equilibrium.
My thoughts are with you, but especially with Ryan as it seems his usual coping mechanisms are not effective for him, and that must be scary and disorienting.
Peace to you all.
LikeLike
Excellent advice – and much appreciated. Among the many frustrations with this particular issue is that we can’t figure out what’s driving it. We recently had Ryan’s IEP meeting and we were talking just last night about how we may have to rethink his placement because of the potential for it to cause anxiety. Your comment makes me wonder – did we trigger this in Ryan by talking about what he might expect in school next year? We will explore it with him. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
LikeLike
i am glad this was helpful to you.
Ryan is intense just like my son, so I have a pretty strong respect and affinity for you all from across the Interwebs 🙂
Thinking of you all and hoping you find some answers and he finds some relief soon. Don’t give up on hockey, or your season tickets. I understand the excruciating temptation, but wait. Make no decision about that in the midst of the storm.
wishing you peace!
LikeLike
Sound advice, once again. Things are improving (see Friday’s post) and no, we’re not making any definitive decisions in the middle of the storm. Thank you, again.
LikeLike
I don’t know if it helps at all, but i’ve noticed an obsession pattern with my son – he gets worked up over something, i freak out, i attempt to fix the problem, nothing works, and 6 months later i can’t remember what we were all worked up about because he’s moved on. Zachary is currently obsessed with weight – his and everyone elses – to the point that he’s getting painfully thin. I like to help him eat healthy and exercise, but the current situation is doing for that what Ryan’s obsession is doing for you. It’s disruptive, affects the whole family, causes sleepless nights. I’m hoping this follows the aforementioned pattern.
LikeLike
Yes we have also been down that road a few times. Some things seem to pass just as randomly as they pop up. Sometimes we can figure out — or at least make an educated guess — as to the cause, sometimes (like this one) we can’t. I’m hoping this, too, passes like so many other issues. We dealt with a weight obsession/lack of eating as well. Also, chewing on shirt collars, refusal to swallow saliva, and many, many others. We’ve always been able to arrive at a solution and I know we will this time too, it’s the waiting to get there that’s the hardest part! Thanks for your comments and suggestions. It is much appreciated.
LikeLike
I wish I had the answer for you. You are in my prayers and thoughts. Hang in there!
LikeLike