Autism.org.uk suggests, “If your family member or the person you support has meltdowns, find out how to anticipate them, identify their causes and minimise their frequency.” https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/behaviour/meltdowns/all-audiences
Managing meltdowns can feel very daunting. Meltdowns can be defined as a spontaneous response to either an abundance of environmental sensory triggers, intense anxiety or panic or a loss of ability to make effective choices needed for a functioning existence.
Firstly, we need to grasp the triggers of a SEND meltdown so that we can then anticipate its onset and react efficiently.
What is Triggering Your Child’s Meltdown?
Do you know what typically happens in the lead-up to a meltdown? What are your child’s triggers?
- Sensory stimulus. Is it following the constant presence of sensory stimulus, such as loud noises, powerful scents or flickering bright lights?
- Extreme discomfort. Is a meltdown preceded by a situation where your child has felt extremely uncomfortable, due to feeling very excluded from a situation, such as an inability to interact or join a group?
- Unplanned events. Has your child endured a lot of unexpected adaptations in the past few days that were not anticipated, throwing them off their normal schedule? Have they been placed in an unfamiliar situation that has caused them additional anxiety?
- Physical well-being. Has there been a decline in their physical state, which has left them unable to be at their usual energy optimum, resulting in an overall reduction in their ability to manage day-to-day life?
Consider the above; try to pinpoint what may be the most relevant for your child. Once you have a better idea of the triggers, you can identify strategies that can be used to dissolve the tension that results in the outcome of a meltdown.
Maintain Daily Communication to ensure Triggers are Managed
We cannot fully live in our child’s pocket, managing their every need, but we can be a support so that we can help monitor how they are feeling in general. As we get to know our child/student, we will notice subtle changes in behaviour that could preclude a meltdown. These changes could result from triggers such as those mentioned above. To be aware of events that may put a child out of alignment mentally can be very valuable in interjecting to prevent the escalation of a situation that can result in a meltdown.
If a Meltdown Occurs – Stay Calm
As you witness the onset of a meltdown, panicking will worsen the situation. Stay calm and breathe rhythmically. In addition:
- Try to move to a peaceful place without bright lights or noise.
- Remove anything potentially harmful to anyone in the room.
- Keep your distance from the child having a meltdown, unless they indicate otherwise.
- Speak to them calmly, briefly and clearly. Reassure them with phrases like, “It’s ok,” “You are safe.”
Silvia, from North-West London, has a lot of advice to share due to her experience as a mum of Joseph, who has complex needs. “It is important to remember that the person’s sense of survival (rather than logic) has now taken over. It is your job to calm them. Remove any triggers that led to the meltdown. If a person was the trigger, then they need to leave, as do any other audience members in the room. Create space and silence. Then, if indoors, establish an exit route. Stay with them and don’t talk. Offer a sugary drink as they will have lost lots of energy and need to quickly replenish it.”
Silvia adds that, above all else, absolutes are:
- No judgmental or controlling looks
- No threatening consequences
- No talking to anyone about the child’s behaviour
- Avoid eye-contact
- Never walk directly towards the person
- Don’t talk unless you are reassuring the child
After a situation has occurred, you will need to gradually recover.
- Keep offering reassurance
- Do not punish a meltdown
- Discuss and reflect later in the day about what happened.
Find out if a physical need was present before the meltdown began, such as needing to use the toilet or a strong smell.
Rowena is mum to Fabian, who has an acquired brain injury. He experiences episodes that can be defined as the escalation stage, just before a meltdown could occur.
Rowena explains, “What we sometimes experience is that Fabian can become triggered from a fear of not being able to hold a conversation. As such, he feels stuck and becomes fixated on words that can then lead to a feeling of heightened anxiety and a possible decline in his regulation. When we see this happen, we deal with this by slowly expanding the conversation to enable him to feel included and also changing the topic of conversation to steer him towards a more comfortable place”.
Managing any stage of a SEND meltdown can be hard. By staying calm and reassuring the child, they are given the best way forward to manage as effectively as possible. Afterwards, time can be made to revisit the situation so that more information can be discussed, and conversations that need to be had can occur peacefully in a safe space.
If you need to interact with people who can advise you further, or who can just listen, please look at the links below to reach out to others who understand the reality of meltdowns and how to manage them.
Useful Websites:
https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/behaviour/meltdowns/all-audiences
https://www.autistica.org.uk/what-is-autism/supporting-meltdowns
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-helpline/
https://www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/what-we-do/services/i-am-a-parent-carer/support-for-families
https://www.kids.org.uk/sendiass-home/
https://autism.org/meltdowns-calming-techniques-in-autism/
https://www.autismparentingmagazine.com/autism-meltdowns/
https://www.firstlooksen.co.uk/copy-of-fine-motor-skills
Please note: The information provided within this blog, by SENsational Tutors, is for general information purposes only. We appreciate that every person is unique and any advice/experiences mentioned within the content of each blog may not be reflective of your own personal experience. All information on the site is provided in good faith and is for educational informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional advice. Before taking any actions based upon such information, we encourage you to consult with appropriate professionals.
