They can sometimes show signs of distress before a meltdown, called “rumblings.” This can include pleas to leave a situation, more agitated stimming (like hand waving, hitting themselves, rocking, or other self-soothing behaviours), and pacing.
TANTRUM VS AUTISTIC MELTDOWN HOW TO
With autistic children, a meltdown may be the result of being uncomfortable in their current situation but not knowing how to express that to a parent. Similar to a tantrum, a meltdown can be related to communication difficulties. It can also be the result of changes in their routine or environment. When they are subjected to their sensitivities too much, it can become deeply uncomfortable, to the point of a meltdown. Many people with autism have heightened sensitivities to particular sensations, like the feeling of certain types of clothing, being touched by people, loud noises, strong scents, or bright lights. A meltdown can be the result of sensory overload. Unlike a tantrum, a meltdown is much more difficult to control. They can also freeze on the spot, be unable to talk, or run away from an overwhelming situation. The results of a meltdown can look similar to a tantrum, with crying, yelling, hitting themselves or others, and other big physical reactions. An autistic meltdown describes a situation where an autistic person gets very overwhelmed by their surroundings. The word “meltdown” has been used as a synonym for “tantrum,” but a tantrum and a meltdown are very different. This can be a great time to introduce them to the feelings wheel, so they can put words to their feelings! And if you need the feelings wheel to work through your own emotions about tantrums, we toootally understand.
This is when they’re just learning how to talk and still working on handling emotions. Tantrums are most common in the toddler years. They want to get a chocolate bar from the grocery store, and when you don’t let them get one, they go from 0 to 100 because they were denied something they wanted. A tantrum is usually a way of relaying a want or a need to the parent but without the emotional vocab to talk about it. When kids don’t know how to communicate their emotions, it can lead to them reacting in really big ways. We’ve talked about toddler tantrums before, but here’s a quick summary. Let’s dive into the differences between a tantrum vs meltdown! What Is a Tantrum? For a child with autism, a meltdown is much more than trying to get what they want, or not being able to communicate their feelings. But a tantrum and a meltdown are two very different things. It’s stressful for you and your child! They don’t know how to communicate all of their wants and needs, so it boils over. A tantrum can include crying, screaming, lashing out, and some really overwhelming emotions. Maybe your child didn’t want to leave the park that day, or brushing their teeth was a biiiig no from them. If you’re a parent, you’ve likely dealt with your child having a tantrum before.
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