Meltdown

From ActuallyAutistic Wiki
Revision as of 23:33, 22 August 2022 by Girlsontour (talk | contribs)

A meltdown is a behavior that happens to autistic people when they are overwhelmed, overstimulated, or feeling other strong emotions. It is very important to note that a meltdown is not a tantrum. The differences are listed below:

Meltdown:

  • Involuntary
  • Not the autistic person's fault
  • Due to emotional or sensory reasons
  • Common for some autistic people (others may experience shutdowns instead)
  • May be unaware of what is going on around them
  • May be cognitive dysfunction*
  • The person is not likely to have capacity at this time*


Tantrum:

  • Due to someone wanting something they cannot have
  • (Uncontrolled) outburst of anger
  • Common for younger children
  • The person or child will occasionally check other's reactions to see if the tantrum is working
  • An autistic person is more likely to experience an autistic meltdown than a tantrum


Autistic Meltdowns can look very different for each individual. Please ask what a meltdown looks like for the individual


Autistic Meltdowns can't be "cured" or "treated", but developing a care plan or prevention plan with the person can be helpful for some.


See also

  • Managing Meltdowns - Deborah Lipsky