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What are meltdowns? They are overwhelming emotions that are quite common in Asperger’s children.
What causes them? It can be anything from a very minor incident to something more traumatic.
How long do they last? It’s anyone’s guess. They last until the child is either completely exhausted, or he gains control of his emotions -- which is not easy for him to do.
Meltdowns are not a pretty sight. They are somewhat like overblown temper tantrums, but unlike tantrums, meltdowns can last anywhere from ten minutes to over an hour. When it starts, the Asperger's child is totally out-of-control. When it ends, both you and the Asperger’s child are totally exhausted.
But...
Don’t breathe a sigh of relief yet. At the least provocation, for the remainder of that day -- and sometimes into the next -- the meltdown can return in full force.
If your child suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome, expect him to experience both minor and major meltdowns over incidents that are part of daily life. He may have a major meltdown over a very small incident, or may experience a minor meltdown over something that is major. There is no way of telling how he is going to react about certain situations. However, there are many ways to help your child learn to control his emotions.
How to Stop Meltdowns and Temper Tantrums in Aspergers Children
10.11.09
He loses his temper frequently...
My son is 10 years old and awaiting an Aspergers diagnosis. He frequently misinterprets the actions of others and becomes quite angry. He loses his temper frequently. How can we help him?
Answer
Your son is experiencing a great deal of stress due to his likely Asperger’s.
Some people react by becoming depressed, some become anxious, and others become angry and experience rage against the frustrating events that occur in their day.
Some individuals externalize their feelings and blame others, while some internalize their feelings and have a difficult time controlling their anger.
Their may be no particular event to his anger – just an aggressive mood or reaction to a frustrating experience.
Encourage self-control and teach your child to consider alternative behaviors.
Self-control can be strengthened by teaching your child to stop and count to ten, taking a deep breath and reminding themselves to keep calm.
Or for some children it is helpful that they have an agreed room or particular space that they take themselves too when they feel that they are getting anxious/angry.
Specific relaxation techniques can be practiced and your child can be taught the cues when they must calm down and relax. Explain the alternative to your child and in specific terms.
There are three stages to help your child when he/she is losing his temper:
1.) Make a list of signals – Construct a list of the signals that indicate the person is becoming increasingly stressed (e.g. rocking, reddened face, pacing, shouting etc.).
2.) Draw attention to the signals – Once these sign are recognized, the person’s attention must be drawn to their actions and behavior. The angry individual is usually the last to recognize the change in their behavior.
3.) Find calming alternatives – Then construct a list of activities which will calm them and encourage them to participate in those behaviors.
Keep in mind that your son will most likely have difficulty expressing what is making him angry.
You will need to assess the situation to determine what may be provoking him.
Another alternative is to keep him engaged in activities that burn off energy and reduce his need to express the anger that he is feeling.
My Aspergers Child: Methods for Preventing Meltdowns
at Home and in the Classroom
Aspergers Test
Psychologist Simon Baron-Cohen and his colleagues at Cambridge's Autism Research Centre have created the Autism-Spectrum Quotient, or AQ, as a measure of the extent of autistic traits in adults. In the first major trial using the test, the average score in the control group was 16.4. Eighty percent of those diagnosed with autism or a related disorder scored 32 or higher. The test is not a means for making a diagnosis. Many who score above 32 - and who even meet the diagnostic criteria for mild autism or Asperger's - report no difficulty functioning in their everyday lives.

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