The Meltdown

'Arousal is a physiological and psychological state
of being awake or reactive to stimuli.'

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arousal

Our bodies naturally go through different states and levels of arousal. When we are sleepy and tired our bodies are in a low state of arousal. When we are stressed, anxious or incredibly excited our bodies are in a high state of arousal. We perform best when we are at a moderate/medium level of arousal

Source: http://www.eoslifework.co.uk/gturmap.htm


Most of us have in built capabilities of self-regulating. That is, if our arousal levels are low, we can do things increase them. If they are too high, we can decrease them. Sometimes we make conscious efforts to regulate... if we are feeling sleepy when we are driving we might put water on our face to stay awake. If we feel stressed, we might have a bath or drink a cup of tea to relax. However, our bodies also naturally self regulate in an unconscious way. This helps us to moderate our emotions and perform certain tasks at optimum arousal levels.

Children with autism do not have the same capacity to self regulate. When a situation causes them stress or anxiety their arousal levels rise.  Most of us after being slightly stressed would naturally decrease our arousal levels to a moderate state. However, this doesn't happen for kids on the spectrum. Their arousal levels stay heightened. So when they get stressed again (even in a small way), their levels rise again. And again. And again. Let's face it, these kids face a greater number of stressful and anxious situations everyday because they cannot process information/ sensory input in a neuro-typical way ( another blog post). Finally their bodies get to the point where they hit the hyperarousal point/ panic and stress and a MELTDOWN occurs. The meltdown is the body's way of dealing with the sensory overload and thus will eventually lead to a lowering of the arousal levels (this can take hours).

 

These heightened arousal levels are the reason it can seem like the smallest thing which 'sets a kid off' into a meltdown. A small touch on the shoulder. A toy that isn't working properly. Somebody gives them the wrong type of food. It isn't this isolated event which causes the meltdown ( most of the time), it is the accumulation of all the small stressful things that makes them reach the tipping point. Had this child had the capacity to lower their arousal levels after each event then the meltdown would not occur. But sadly, most kids on the spectrum do not naturally have this capability. This is where they need help, intervention and eventually need to learn ways to self regulate themselves. This intervention is known as a sensory diet.

What can you do for a child who is having a meltdown?
To be honest, not a lot. Remember, they have hit the 'hyperarousal' state... the fight or flight zone... they are not using their 'thinking' brain. Logic and other interventions do not typically work as they are in sensory overload and will not cope with any other input.

When my child hits this zone, we need to put him in his room (which he also shares with his two brothers). If he is any other part of the house he will throw things, push furniture over, try to break things and bites furniture. His room is the safest place for him and the rest of the family. There is not much to throw or destroy in there (all the toys are in another room). He will roll around, cry and scream in there. He will push over what he can, pull sheets off the bed. After a certain amount of time, when he has calmed down somewhat, he is open to some sort of intervention to help bring his levels back down. He is still fairly reliant on me as his mother to do this. A cuddle on my lap and strong pats on his back often help. Then I try and introduce another activity which he finds calming (reading his favourite book, doing a puzzle or constructing something).

Activities which give the child a sense of completion are very important for kids on the spectrum. Seeing the 'whole' of something is calming to them. They have a strong sense of accomplishment. I find the 'smart games' series of toys and puzzles really great for this purpose. We have this particular one and often buy through IQ Toys.

 

The meltdown is emotionally and physically exhausting for me as a parent. It's not unusual for me to have a good cry after such an event. It is very difficult for me not to feel anger at E during these times. But it is really significant to remain calm and intervene in this way. When I get angry, it really tears E down. It cuts him deep. It's astounding no matter how I much I understand that he is not choosing this behaviour, I still find it so hard to moderate my emotions. If it's hard for me, what must it be like for him?