![]() There is no single way to regulate, but maintaining your self-regulation and creating an understanding and supportive presence is important. Containment strategies are suggested to defuse meltdowns – mainly when others in the area are in danger. Other times it is best to allow them space for self-regulation. Some practitioners advise parents to meet their child on their level – if they are jumping and screaming, you can start doing the same thing–sometimes meeting them where they are creates an easier connection. It is crucial to stay present with your patient or loved one throughout the entire experience. Use as few words as possible and provide reassurance through self-regulation and calming tools. Body-based regulations like stimming, jumping, etc., are often purposeful and used as coping mechanisms for sensory imbalances. In these cases, it is best for an individual to self-regulate. Regulateĭuring meltdowns, the emotional part of the brain takes over, and it may be difficult for the individual to listen while they are experiencing it since explanations and logic may not be clearly understood and may add to sensory overload. A positive response to meltdowns can be simplified into three steps: regulate, relate, and reason. You need to meet the individual at their energy level and react quickly to their needs, recognizing when to call for help. Keeping yourself regulated and alert is essential for ensuring your safety and the safety of the individual experiencing dysregulation. Try to take each incident as it comes, and remember to stay calm and provide meaningful support. ![]() As a parent or caretaker, it is essential to remember that your loved one is experiencing difficulty with their emotions and that they may look to you for support or assistance. Meltdowns can create uncomfortable or dangerous situations if the stressor continues and proper recovery time isn’t possible. They can be challenging to navigate for everyone involved, and it is essential to know what to do when these situations occur. Meltdowns continue until the individual feels safe and calm. Sensory Processing and Autism (2015) with Lucy Jane Miller, Ph.D., OTR Calming and Recovery Techniques Sensory Processing and Autism (2019) with Virginia Spielman, MSOTĮmotional Regulation in Autism Spectrum Disorder with Dr. Watch one of our free webinars for more information on sensory processing and emotional regulation in autism: Differences in brain function and neuron pathway connections may predispose individuals with autism to dysregulated sensory input. Many core symptoms of autism are related to sensory processing, communication, and emotional regulation. At that point, sensory information stops transmitting to the emotional processing (limbic system) or analytical (neocortex) parts of the brain, making it very difficult to think about the situation at hand. The brain perceives highly dysregulated sensory inputs as a literal threat to survival which initiates the fight, flight, freeze response. Sensory inputs are perceived and interpreted in the lower part of the brain (brain stem), where our most basic human responses are regulated (i.e., instinct, survival, arousal). Our sensory systems (e.g., touch, smell, sound, sight) automatically process and translate input into meaningful information however, individuals with impaired nervous systems experience and use sensory inputs differently. Sensory inputs are the first way we interact with and understand the world around us. Nervous system overload and sensory processingĭifficulties with sensory processing can trigger nervous system overload. ![]() Recovery time for meltdowns can last up to 20 minutes or more after removing the stressor. Once individuals have reached that state, they cannot usually respond to standard behavioral calming cues or techniques. The reaction is involuntary and cannot be controlled as intense emotions take over, and tension build-up is released via stimming, repetitive movements, zoning out, screaming, crying, stomping, etc. Meltdowns are not behavioral responses and generally aren’t used to attain a specific outcome. They are the physical manifestation of neurobiological chaos caused by a perceived threat to life. Outbursts generally stop after the desired outcome, so recovery is nearly instant.Ĭontrastingly, meltdowns are involuntary responses to a nervous system overload. Tantrums happen deliberately, and the individual maintains control of their body and mind the entire time. It is a learned behavioral response used to attain the desired outcome (e.g. A tantrum is an emotional outburst with a specific goal or function.
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