

Individuals on the autism spectrum meet with stressful social encounters on a regular basis. Screaming, rage and yelling in public – it can all happen when the senses get into a kind of traffic jam. It can be any number of things too much input leads to meltdowns. Some individuals are affected by noise, others by smells, textures, or even lights. Some things that may cause a meltdown are: Strategies to consider include distraction, diversion, helping the person use calming strategies such as fiddle toys or listening to music, removing any potential triggers, and staying calm yourself. They may start to exhibit signs of anxiety such as pacing, seek reassurance through repetitive questioning or physical signs such as rocking or becoming very still.Īt this stage, there may still be a chance to prevent a meltdown. Many people will show signs of distress before having a meltdown, which is sometimes referred to as the “rumble stage”. When a person is completely overwhelmed, and their condition means it is difficult to express that in another way, it is understandable that the result is a meltdown. It happens when someone becomes completely overwhelmed by their current situation and temporarily loses control of their behaviour. This loss of control can be expressed verbally (eg shouting, screaming, crying), physically (eg kicking, lashing out, biting) or in both ways.Ī meltdown is not the same as a temper tantrum. A meltdown is an intense response to an overwhelming situation.
