You can imagine in that situation that meltdowns are predictable, primarily because of the amount of interactions I have to have daily. When people aren’t quite getting you or you’re in a situation that’s generally a mismatch - like a job that requires lots of social interaction - the distress or overwhelm can easily lead to a meltdown.īeing ridiculously outspoken has helped to get me a position as head of discipline for a High School of over 600 students. Often, you’ll be waiting for people to catch up to you, and that’s frustrating.
Calming an autistic meltdown how to#
Most neurotypical people don’t know much about how to accommodate autistic people in conversation (or anywhere, really). The key to fewer meltdowns is balance: a good eight hours of sleep, nutritious food with protein, water, peace and quiet. Meltdowns are caused by tiredness, lack of food (must eat snacks every two hours) too much people contact, dehydration, etc. This means meltdowns can be more likely to happen during these times. It can be distracting or distressing when you feel discomfort or tired, and that makes you more vulnerable to triggers in the world around you. It’s hard to be at the top of your game when you’re missing out on some of your basic needs, like food, water and sleep. In other cases I usually get meltdowns when I am expected to hold a presentation in front of unknown people or in general too many people. Or when I get frustrated with a given task and am not allowed to ask for help. I get meltdowns quite often when someone’s yelling doesn’t need to be directed at me while I am not able to understand why. The one thing that really calms me down is taking breaks that last like 10 or 15 minutes, just being by myself in a quiet place. Things like places with a lot of people, around the mall, weddings, at a club still make nervous, too much noise, etc. I have less meltdowns now as an adult but because I learned to identify the factor that trigger my meltdown. Getting to a quieter, less crowded place can be helpful. Places where lots of people gather can be incredibly overwhelming to many of the senses, and overly peopled places can be the trigger for a meltdown. Many public spaces are also crowded - think the mall, train stations, restaurants, popular tourist destinations and even theaters. Others can help by thinking before they speak, and be aware of their prejudices. Emotional/mental overwhelm when in new environments trying to cope with it without showing that I am struggling. Not understanding when I have truly done or said something wrong/offensive or if the person who is telling me off is just a jerk. It’s therefore no surprise many autistic people say a new environment can lead to a meltdown.
Calming an autistic meltdown full#
It’s a change in routine, may be full of new people, can cause overwhelming anxiety and might require communication with new people who may not understand neurodiversity. There are perhaps several ways a new environment can trigger a meltdown. To many people, too loud, too busy, way too much noise.
I have a PECS board and an emotion board for when I have a meltdown because I become mute in a meltdown. cameronparkĪny loud noise or weird smell or if I get too excited. Trigger wise it’s all over the place from any loud sound to something disturbs or startles me. Noise, too many people, and I think the worst one for me is mess. Loud sounds are also often found in places that are busy, chaotic and full of people, which can increase overstimulation in the moment. While you may have a sensitivity to a variety of things you can see, hear, smell, taste or touch, loud sounds and places with too much noise can be especially dysregulating.
Sensory sensitivity is common among people on the spectrum - it’s overwhelming to be bombarded with too much input from the world around you. Mostly just change within my routine, or just unexpected things happening, new places like visiting a city or place for the first time, conversation with strangers, it goes that far that I’m literally not able to order food at McDonalds. When something doesn’t go the way I planned. Also, don’t try to get in the way of my routines I will turn you down. Don’t be upset if I don’t go to your long distance event. … Understand that long distance travel is dysregulating for me and I need structure and routine. However, the disruption from a change in routine can seem magnified and for some, lead to a meltdown.Ĭhanges in my routines. Of course, sometimes things don’t go as planned, which can be stressful. While there are some truly spontaneous people out there, most of us feel most comfortable when we stick to a routine so we know what to expect.
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