Meltdowns

You know what really grinds my gears? When there is a child on the Spectrum who is obviously overwhelmed and people instantly assume that they are having a temper tantrum and begin throwing dirty looks. So, that’s what I’m going to be covering in this article. Education eh? It’s an amazing thing.
A load of people on the Spectrum can experience meltdowns. It doesn’t matter what age they are.
A meltdown is basically when a person on the Spectrum responds to overwhelming situations with intense emotions. It can happen when a situation becomes overwhelming/over-stimulating and they can loose control of their behaviour temporarily. A meltdown can be expressed in any possible way. Most people think a meltdown is just crying, melting to the ground or if you’re a child, throwing a tantrum. But it’s way more than that, especially when you are a teenager or an adult and they can actually be quite serious.
Meltdowns can be expressed both verbally and physically. Verbally, they can be expressed through shouting, crying or screaming and physically, they can be expressed through self-harm, kicking, lashing out or biting. In some cases, it can be all of the above.
I’ve mentioned this already but I’ll mention it again. MELTDOWNS ARE NOT THE SAME AS TEMPER TANTRUMS. Especially with children, meltdowns should not be seen as naughty and they most definitely should not be punished for it. However, I have seen parents who have children on the Spectrum and they drag them through supermarkets and shops when they are clearly stressed out. If your child shows signs of being overwhelmed, you probably should remove them from the overwhelming place as immediately as you can or maybe find a way to protect them from the noises and lights that annoy them such as headphones or glasses. I know Lidl and SuperValu, two supermarkets over here, have a special time of the day where they dim the lights and lower the music so that people on the Spectrum can go and do their shopping peacefully.
Now, I mention this in almost every article I write but not every person on the Spectrum is the same. There are people on the Spectrum that don’t experience meltdowns. However, these people have other ways to express overwhelming feelings. Examples of these are avoiding interaction and withdrawing or completely ignoring situations that can be challenging.
Other common triggers for meltdowns are changes in routine, anxiety or difficulty in communication with people on the Spectrum who are non-verbal. If you have a family member or friend that is on the Spectrum and experiences meltdowns frequently, you could try talking to them about it so that they can give you a heads up. Or, if they are non-verbal, you could try keeping track of things that irritate them, maybe keep it in a diary or in your phone notes to remind yourself! Keep track of their behaviours too, especially before a meltdown occurs so that you know when to anticipate it. In some cases, there might not even be a trigger. The person could have just woke up on the wrong side of the bed. But the best thing to do is just offer your emotional support where you can.
If you ever experience anyone having a meltdown, you should definitely give them some time, maybe alone, to recover. Just note that the recovery process can take a while depending. You can ask them if they are ok but just bare in mind, they’ll need more time to answer. Also, make some space! Try set up a quiet area and if you are in public, just make sure people don’t rally around. Bring them to an area that may be quiet. I will definetely be doing a blog in the future on some tips on how you can help an Autistic person having a meltdown.
I always had meltdowns at parties growing up. Mainly because the loud noises were overwhelming to me. However, as I grew older, I became more private about my meltdowns and I learned how to deal with them in my own way. I will quietly excuse myself if I am out in public (but keep in mind that this is all masking and inside I am screaming at the top of my lungs) and I will find my way to the nearest bathroom (normally a disabled bathroom rather than the public bathrooms as they make it worse with the loud dryers and flushers) and I leave all of my emotions out there. If I am really bad and still emotional afterwards, I will go home and just watch a show and have a cup of tea and stim. I also bring a small stimmer out with me if I’m out in public like a squishy or a fidget spinner and I also wear foam earplugs in my ears to avoid any possible triggers for sensory overload that could result in a meltdown. My dog Pugsy also helps me. He is not a service dog but he knows when I’m upset and always checks on me and calms me down by licking my wrist. 
So, the next time you’re in the local supermarket and you see a child in an emotional state, be mindful that it might not be what you think. The same goes if you have a friend on the Spectrum that has gone M.I.A. Don’t jump to conclusions. Just take in the considerations!