Managing Autism Meltdowns Effectively: A Journey to Joy

AUTISM MELTDOWNS

Autism meltdowns are a developmental remnant for autism. Therefore, it is typical for the years prior to beginning Optimum Health’s autism recovery program to be fraught with them. In order to be your child’s best advocate, it is important to be able to distinguish between autism meltdowns and tantrums. Let’s take a closer look at these two.

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MELTDOWNS VS TANTRUMS

To best understand meltdown and tantrums, we look at what many call the “terrible twos.” Yes, the “terrible twos” are marked by defiance and stubbornness that yield meltdowns and tantrums.

Initially, the baby/toddler is unable to control its emotions. Therefore, emotional outburst are typical when they are determined to have what they want. These outburst are actually meltdowns as they cannot be controlled. Therefore, we don’t tell the baby or 14-month-old toddler to just stop crying because we know they can’t. Instead, we focus on keeping the toddler safe during meltdowns. For example, we cover sharp edges on tables so the toddler won’t run into them and hurt himself. We don’t expect anything different because we know they are not yet capable.

At some point, we realize that the toddler has become capable of controlling his outbursts. The toddler may continue to have outburst because he has learned that the outbursts gets him what he desires. At this point, the outbursts are no longer meltdowns. These outbursts have become tantrums. It is important not to yield to tantrums since the child is capable of controlling his emotions. At this point, continuing to yield to tantrums will spoil the child and retard his development. It is time to tell the child that this behavior is unacceptable and not allowed. You have to mean it when you say it!

SUMMARY:

	Identifying Quality	Goal
Meltdown	Uncontrolled Outbursts	Safety
Tantrum	Controlled Outbursts	Cessation

AUTISM MELTDOWNS: THE DETAILS

Since many autistic children begin to regress at age 2, they tend to still be at the stage of 2-year-old development when diagnosed with autism. Without significant autism recovery, they may remain a 2-year-old developmentally. This means dealing with meltdowns regularly no matter how old the age of the autistic child. These meltdowns are autism meltdowns.

When a child enters Optimum Health’s autism recovery program, we remove the heavy metals so their brains can begin to heal. As the child’s brain begins to develop again, it will pick up where it left off at the 2-year-old developmental stage. Hence, many parents will notice that their child is more defiant and stubborn for a few weeks shortly after he starts Optimum Health’s autism recovery program.

Fortunately, the parents usually notice that the 2-year-old developmental remnant quickly dissipates along with the autism meltdowns that disrupted their lives. The autism meltdowns are often replaced by tantrums that can be controlled and stopped. This makes it critical to be able to distinguish between an autism meltdown and a tantrum. If you have any doubt that you are a pro at distinguishing the two, go back up to the top of this page and read it again.

SEEING THE TERRIBLE TWOS IN YOUR CHILD’S AUTISM MELTDOWNS

As the pictures below illustrate, this stage looks really different for older autistic individuals. It takes a little imagination to recognize that your older autistic individual is still in the “terrible twos” phase. You have to learn to see the two-year-old in your autistic child no matter what his or her age. When you read the book, What to Expect: The Toddler Years by Eisenberg, Murkoff and Hathaway (ISBN 0-89480-994-6 ) that is referenced throughout this document, it may be helpful to substitute the word “toddler” with the word “autistic child” or “autistic individual”.

Keep in mind that your child’s brain may not have improved enough yet for him to be able to handle this stage as well as an actual two-year-old could. You may find that many of the suggestions made for a toddler won’t work initially for your child. At times, all you can do is nurture yourself while you love your child through it simply keeping them safe as you have been doing. Hug your child and let him have his way as much as you can if this developmental remnant hasn’t dissipated yet.

HELP FOR PARENTS DEALING WITH AUTISM MELTDOWNS

Having a good support system is critical to dealing with autism meltdowns. It is also critical to be on a good multivitamin and B complex to help you deal with the stress. Valerian root can help you and your child handle the stress as well. Fortunately, most of the “terrible twos” meltdown developmental remnant with the autistic children in our program dissipate in about a month or two. Since the increasing severity of the “terrible twos” phase is actually an indication that your child’s brain is healing and improving, it is a time for celebration! Be happy about that. Then, get ready for the rough ride through it.

Tantrums and meltdowns are often the result of overstimulation and/or under stimulation. Therefore, learning how to deal with these two is a critical part of making it through the rough ride of the terrible two’s remnants.

AUTISM MELTDOWNS AND OVERSTIMULATION

For overstimulation, it is advised to provide a dark, quiet space. This could be achieved with a tent, a light-blocking blanket or by installing light-blocking curtains or blinds. If a child on the autism spectrum has a place to go when she is feeling overwhelmed by sensory stimuli, she is much less likely to act out in frustration.

AUTISM MELTDOWNS AND UNDERSTIMULATION

For understimulation, a sensory exploration area or box of sensory toys might be used. Sand, water, gravel, squishy toys, hug pillows, stretch bands, putty, rattles, action song tapes or videos, swings and trampolines are all popular options. For anxious or hyperactive children, a weighted vest might be an option. It delivers deep pressure touch stimulation, which might help them feel calmer and more focused. Ear defenders and sunglasses can help, too.

THE CESSATION OF TANTRUMS

As your child progresses through Optimum Health’s autism recovery program, their brain will heal. As their brain heals, the meltdowns will get milder becoming tantrums. This may happen in the first week or it may take a few months. It is different with each child. Though your child is now able to control herself, she may now realize that mimicking the behavior of a meltdown will get her what she wants.

Patrick, a 12 year old autistic boy that went through our autism recovery program is a good example of autism meltdowns becoming tantrums. He had literally been throwing himself on the floor in numerous autism meltdowns all his life. He had many bruises that proved that he simply could not control himself. About one months after he started our autism recovery program, the meltdowns became tantrums. However, Patrick continued the behavior for over a month because his parents responded to it by letting him have his way.

Patrick’sis father finally realized that these episodes were only tantrums when his son went to throw himself on the floor and decided to just lay on the floor because he knew throwing himself on the floor was going to hurt. Patrick laid on the floor and began kicking and screaming. At this point, just as with an actual two-year old, the father’s goal became cessation. The father simply let his son know that this behavior was no longer acceptable and walked out the room leaving his son on the floor. Patrick got up and never attempted to have another autism meltdown!

Sometimes a parent may try bargaining with the child. In nearly all cases, our parents have found that, once the child realized they were not manipulated by this type of behavior nor willing to tolerate it, the tantrums ceased.

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