16/06/2026
A personal story 💕
When my son was 5yrs old he was diagnosed with Level 2 Autism, Combined ADD/ADHD and generalised anxiety (from an earlier diagnosis of Gobal Developmental Delay).
Every day was stressful, I never knew what mood my son would wake up in, and how long that mood would last. I tip toed around his triggers, trying to prevent a meltdown or angry rage outburst that felt uncontrollable, or would set the tone of a “bad mood” that could last the entire day, days or even the week! This pattern left me over analyzing every tantrum, mood, and meltdown while I tried to work out what the trigger was, and how to help him through it, and how to avoid it in the future.
I felt alone. No one around understood the feelings I was feeling, just how carefully we all had to speak to him, and also the extra love, compassion and patience he needed sometimes.
I felt helpless, my poor little boy who to me was still my baby, who lived seemingly in his own world, that I couldn’t communicate properly with, because I didn’t know how to get through to him in a way he could understand fully, and who also couldn’t communicate to me in the way he also needed. Not because we didn’t have a close relationship, but because he didn’t even know how to put into words what he was feeling… despite my multiple round about attempts to explain and encourage his ability to explain.
The judgement that came was next. “I wasn’t firm enough with him”, “I let him get away with everything”, “I didn’t force him enough to eat what was put in front of him”. What no one understood was, that I had to pick my battles (and carefully!), I had to show him unconditional love no matter his behaviour, and some days, I was just happy that he would eat - even if it was the one type of cracker he only would eat, or the one brand of (plain!) spaghetti he would eat that had to be cooked exactly the right way, or a jam sandwich (the only sandwich he would eat, which had to be the right kind of bread with the right kind of jam). Anything else that wasn’t a “safe” food, there would be tears and physically repulsion, met with an absolute refusal to eat - the kind where he would rather not eat at all, than try a new food.
Then the diagnosis. Finally - an answer for all this confusion (from my end), a relief to the self blame and wondering “Is it my fault? Am I too soft? Not firm enough? Is he too spoilt?” Because I had heard it all. Then came the offer to medicate him. The side effects sounded awful. My research led me to learn this medication was an Adult Antihypertensive that was used OFF-LABEL for children with autism and had never been through trials to measure side effects and long term health outcomes. This made me feel sick, how could I use my baby as an experiment for this drug? I couldn’t.
So I looked into natural options and discovered Homeopathy. To discover there was a potential for NATURAL support for my son was a huge relief - I was willing to try anything that was 100% safe. And what a journey it’s been!
Where are we now? I honestly can’t compare my now 7yr old, with that then 5yr old that I dreaded taking anywhere public as I didn’t know how he would react or what mood he would go into and whether I could control him enough to keep him (and his baby sister) safe.
My now homeopathically treated and supported son, is someone who I trust to now HELP me at the shops with his younger siblings (now 2 of them), someone who I can explain big things too and who will have a conversation with me about all things life. Who will explain to me when his brain can’t focus. Who will tell me he is getting frustrated without going straight to losing his sh**. Who will ask deep and inquisitive questions. Who will share amazing memories from years ago. Who makes friends now, makes eye contact when he talks to even new people, and even initiates new friendships. Who is reliable, and predictable, and even in his difficult moments, it never feels totally out of control anymore. Who adores and cares for his animals, especially his duck Flynn. Whose development sky rocketed even on the first round of treatment. This boy, and this life I now live, is a total 180. And this is just ONE of the reasons I am deeply passionate about homeopathy. I hope to help many families into the future who may be where I was just a year ago.
💖 Tahman
Self Empowered Health - Homeopathy and Natural Healing
(Pictured: my son and his duck, Flynn 💚🦆)
