Autism Meltdown
Many autistic people have meltdowns. The public often finds it hard to tell autism meltdowns and temper tantrums apart, but they are very different things. If your family member or the person you support has meltdowns, find out how to anticipate them, identify their causes and minimise their frequency. What is a meltdown? A meltdown is an intense response to an overwhelming situation. 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. What to do If someone is having a meltdown, or not responding to you, don’t judge them. It can make a world of difference to an autistic person and their carers. Give them some time - it can take a while to recover from information or sensory overload. Cal...