Are you familiar with autistic meltdowns? Have you ever experienced one or been witness to
someone going through them? This is an experience that can be quite traumatic and overwhelming for everyone involved.
Autistic meltdowns are a form of emotional dysregulation requiring much understanding and knowledge to manage them. This blog post will cover what constitutes an autistic meltdown, what it looks like from the outside, and strategies to understand and care for yourself or someone else experiencing it.
Whether you are just starting to learn about autism-related topics or already familiar with them, this blog post will give you helpful insight into the phenomenon!
Autistic Meltdown
An autistic meltdown, or an autistic episode or meltdown, is an intense response to overwhelming sensory, emotional, or cognitive stimuli experienced by some individuals on the autism spectrum. It is important to note that not all individuals with autism experience meltdowns, and the severity and frequency of meltdowns can vary greatly among those who do.
Causes of Autistic Meltdown
Here are some common causes that can contribute to autistic meltdowns:
Sensory Overload
Many individuals on the autism spectrum have heightened sensitivity to sensory stimuli. Everyday sensory experiences such as loud noises, bright lights, strong smells, crowded environments, or certain textures can become overwhelming and lead to sensory overload. When the sensory input exceeds their coping ability, it can trigger a meltdown.
Emotional Overwhelm
Autistic individuals may have difficulty regulating emotions and experience intense emotions more acutely than neurotypical individuals. Challenges with understanding or expressing emotions, difficulty managing stress or anxiety, or feeling overwhelmed by social interactions can contribute to emotional overload and eventually result in a meltdown.
Communication Difficulties
Communication challenges are common in autism. Difficulty expressing needs, desires, or emotions and challenges in understanding verbal and non-verbal cues from others can lead to frustration, confusion, and a sense of being misunderstood.
When these communication difficulties become overwhelming, they can contribute to meltdowns as a response to the frustration and inability to communicate effectively.
Unpredictability or Change
Autistic individuals often thrive on routine and predictability. Sudden changes in routines, unexpected events, transitions, or disruptions to familiar environments can be highly distressing. The loss of predictability and control over their environment can trigger anxiety and result in a meltdown.
Cognitive Overload
Autistic individuals may have differences in information processing, which can lead to cognitive overload. Processing multiple stimuli, tasks, or demands simultaneously can overwhelm their cognitive resources, leading to stress and meltdowns. This can be particularly challenging in situations that require multitasking, quick decision-making, or processing complex information.
How Autistic Meltdowns Differ From Ordinary Temper Tantrums
Autistic meltdowns and ordinary temper tantrums are distinct in their underlying causes, intensity, triggers, and duration. Here are some key differences:
- Triggers: Autistic meltdowns are typically triggered by sensory overload, emotional distress, or difficulties with communication or social interactions. In contrast, ordinary temper tantrums in children often respond to frustration or a desire to obtain something they want.
- Intensity: Autistic meltdowns tend to be more intense than ordinary temper tantrums. They may involve extreme emotional reactions, such as intense crying, screaming, self-injurious behaviors, or attempts to flee the situation. These reactions can be overwhelming and may persist for a longer duration compared to typical tantrums.
- Sensory aspects: Sensory sensitivities are often involved in autistic meltdowns. Individuals on the autism spectrum may experience sensory overload, where certain sounds, lights, textures, or other sensory stimuli become overwhelming. This sensory overwhelm can contribute to the intensity of the meltdown. In contrast, sensory factors are less likely to influence ordinary temper tantrums.
- Communication difficulties: Autistic individuals may struggle to communicate effectively and express their needs or emotions. When these difficulties become overwhelming, they can contribute to the escalation of a meltdown. In ordinary tantrums, children may possess the ability to communicate their wants and need more clearly, even if their demands are not met.
- Duration and recovery: Autistic meltdowns often last longer than typical temper tantrums. They can persist for several minutes or even hours, and the recovery period may also be extended. It may take longer for the individual to calm down and regain emotional equilibrium. Ordinary temper tantrums in children tend to be shorter in duration, typically subsiding once the child's needs are met, or they realize they are not achieving their desired outcome.
Symptoms of Autistic Meltdown
Emotional outburst
The individual may display intense emotional distress, such as crying, screaming, or shouting. The emotional reaction may seem disproportionate to the triggering event or situation.
Agitation and restlessness
The person may become highly agitated, restless, or fidgety. They may exhibit pacing, hand flapping, or other repetitive movements to cope with the overwhelming emotions.
Sensory overload
Sensory sensitivities can contribute to meltdowns. The individual may cover their ears, close their eyes, or try to block out certain stimuli. They may become overwhelmed by sounds, lights, textures, or other sensory input, leading to heightened distress.
Self-injurious behaviors
Some individuals may self-harm during a meltdown, such as hitting themselves, biting their hands, or banging their heads against a surface. These behaviors can be a manifestation of extreme distress and a way to release or cope with overwhelming emotions.
Attempts to escape or flee
The individual may intensely desire to escape the triggering environment or situation. They may try to run away, hide, or remove themselves from the source of distress.
Communication difficulties
Communication challenges can exacerbate a meltdown. Individuals may struggle to express their needs or emotions effectively, increasing frustration and distress. They may find it difficult to articulate what is causing their distress or to ask for help.
Managing Autistic Meltdowns
Recognize the signs
Learn to recognize the early signs that indicate an autistic meltdown may be imminent. These signs can vary from person to person but may include increased agitation, sensory overload, changes in behavior or communication, or signs of distress. By identifying these signs early, you can intervene proactively.
Provide a calm environment
Create a calm and safe space for the individual. Reduce sensory stimuli by dimming lights, minimizing noise, or offering a quiet area where they can retreat if needed. Creating a predictable and structured environment can also help in preventing meltdowns.
Respect personal boundaries
During a meltdown, the individual may need personal space. Allow them to move away from overwhelming situations or stimuli. If they feel comfortable with touch, gentle pressure or deep pressure techniques like a hug or a weighted blanket may provide comfort and security. However, always ask for consent before offering physical contact.
Use calming strategies
Some individuals find comfort in specific calming strategies. These include deep breathing exercises, listening to soothing music, providing sensory tools like fidget toys or stress balls, or engaging in repetitive or rhythmic activities. Experiment with different strategies to find what works best for the individual.
Offer support and reassurance
Use simple and clear language to convey your support. Let the individual know that you are there for them and that you understand they are experiencing distress. Offer reassurance, but avoid overwhelming them with too many words or instructions.
Seek professional help if needed
Suppose meltdowns are frequent, severe, or significantly impacting the individual's quality of life. In that case, it may be beneficial to seek guidance from a healthcare professional, such as a psychologist or a therapist specializing in autism spectrum disorders. They can provide further strategies and interventions tailored to the individual's needs.
FAQs
What triggers autism meltdowns?
Various sources, including sensory overload, communication difficulties, overwhelming emotions, and unexpected environmental changes, can trigger autistic meltdowns. It's important to recognize the individual's triggers so that they can be managed or avoided.
What does a mild autistic meltdown look like?
A mild autistic meltdown may involve agitation, restlessness, and emotional outbursts. The individual may try to escape the triggering environment or situation by running away or hiding. They may also become overwhelmed by sensory input, such as sound or light.
How do you know if you had an autistic meltdown?
Signs of an autistic meltdown include intense emotional distress, agitation, restlessness, sensory overload, self-injurious behaviors, attempts to escape or flee, and communication difficulties.
Conclusion
Autistic meltdowns are extremely stressful and confusing for many associated with this sensory input and emotional output spikes. It is important to remember that, while unexpected and sometimes problematic, autistic meltdowns result from a natural escalation from overwhelming stimulation or stressors. This understanding can provide family members of those with autism with insight into preventing such behaviors and what steps can be taken when faced with an autistic meltdown situation.
