Meltdowns are common in autism. A meltdown is how the brain responds to overwhelming circumstances. This tends to happen due to too much change, sensory overloads, or being overly anxious. A meltdown may look like a tantrum; however, they are not the same. A meltdown is not something that can be controlled. A tantrum is usually for attention or out of anger. A meltdown is simply overwhelming circumstances for an individual. During a meltdown, the individual may zone out and fidget or it can be the individual crying or screaming uncontrollably.
I have had several of these. In my experience, it feels like a loss of control. It is like watching your body from the outside and forgetting where you are. You can't think straight and you forget who you are. Sometimes I completely zone out and it's hard for me to come back to reality. I've also gone through meltdowns where I'm screaming at someone and I can't explain why. I have thrown things as well out of frustration at myself. I never realize what's going on until the damage is done and it feels terrible.
It can be difficult to distinguish whether someone with autism is throwing a tantrum or having a meltdown. The main difference is that a tantrum is out of frustration or anger and it goal oriented. The individual may stop when they get ignored or get what they want. A meltdown is being overwhelmed. The individual will not be able to just stop no matter what they get out of it. Some thing to help a meltdown, but may not stop it are:
1. Noise-cancelling headphones
Headphones will help the individual from being triggered from any sudden noises that may occur. knowing that the world is quiet helps those with autism stay calm. Any outside noise during a meltdown will only make the meltdown worse.
2. Fidget toys
Fidget toys give comfort to those with autism. It doesn't matter how old the individual is. Toys help anyone with autism. We like to fidget. It's very hard to sit still when overwhelmed.
3. Breathing exercises
Breathing exercises give the individual a second to think and take a step back. It gives the individual time to process what is happening.
4. Staying calm
If you are not calm, the meltdown is only going to last longer. The individual is already on a sensory overload, so getting stressed out or frustrated will only make the situation worse.
5. Listening
Try to understand the problem. It may be difficult, but you have to be patient. The individual may have a hard time communicating during the meltdown; however, once they are ready they will most likely explain what is stressing them out.
All of these coping mechanisms may not work. These are just some things to try. It may take a lot of trial and error to figure out what is the best fit for different individuals. Some of these don't help me as much as others, but after trying many things, I have figured out what works best for me. It is important that everyone is aware that meltdowns exist. This does not mean the individual wants to make your life more difficult than it is. If anything, they need you to understand how difficult it is on them.
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