Tips for Dealing with Meltdowns in Children with Autism

Dr. Mary Barbera discusses how to get rid of autism meltdowns by providing some tips for dealing with autism meltdowns.

The treatment of meltdowns in children with autism can be extremely complex, even from the very start when we need to define behavior of a meltdown, and what it even is. Today, I review some tactics and strategies for understanding what a meltdown is, and how to start thinking about what steps to take in preventing autism meltdowns. One critical note that I’d love for you to take away from this video, if you learn anything, is to prevent and not react. For information on turning autism around and preventing other problem behaviors such as autism meltdowns, download my free guide and visit my website for more resources.

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If you enjoyed this video how to eliminate meltdowns in children with autism, be sure to subscribe to the channel, like this video and visit my website below. If you have more questions, leave them down in the comments section, and I will do my best to answer you. Thanks for watching today's video blog, and let's #turnautismaround together!

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Dr. Mary Barbera "fell" into the world of autism in 1999 when her firstborn son, Lucas, was diagnosed with autism one day before his third birthday. In the last 2 decades, Mary went from almost nothing about autism to becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, writing a bestseller, The Verbal Behavior Approach (now translated into more than 10 languages) and obtaining a PhD. with an in-depth knowledge of some of the best ABA autism strategies. In 2015, Mary began her first online course on autism that has already been purchased from parents and professionals in more than 45 countries and now sells 3 courses online. With more than 2 decades in the world of autism, both as a parent and as a professional, Mary is in a unique position to help you, especially if you live or work with a child with autism who also has delays or language disorders. Its mission is to change things for 2 million children with autism (or signs of autism) by 2020 through online training and advocacy.

[liyubi]

To summarize:
1. Define
2. Assess frequency and severity
3. Treatment and planning
Tip: 95% prevention

[Tqueenboss]

I hate my meltdowns. I'll cry, and feel so fustrated. I'll smack myself in the head, scream at people, call people names, pace around, and pull my hair (I've had this happen *a lot* for around the span 4 years). I also begin to feel overloded (sensory wise). The worse feeling is knowing afterwards that I was mad for a stupid reason and feeling embarrassed 😔

Crazily enough, no one in my family mentions it and they pretend like it doesn't happen. I'm trying to tell my mom I might have Autism (and the symptoms were delayed) and need a diagnosis but she won't believe me! I'll just tell my pediatrician when I see her next, so I can get some closure! Thanks for the video, it was helpful!

[Anna_]

My best friend has autism and once at school she had a tough time during class. I didn’t know what to do before but I’m watching these sorts of videos to try and learn how to help her in case she does need that help again. I just feel so bad for her because I felt like I was doing something wrong. She was crying and I sat out there with her and saying that it’s ok. I counted with her when breathing in and out. Thank you for making this video so I can understand more on what I should do next time.

[vanessabayardo]

I am so tired of all the adults at home, not been patient with my nephew. My nephew was having a meltdown today. He is 3.7 years old. We were at the park. I told my mom to leave and I would stay with him until he calmed down. She said, "No it's not a nervous breakdown. F...that. It's a tantrum". Apparently because I'm the one with a minor in Psychology. If I'm telling you to leave me alone with him it's because I'm the only one patient with him. Why can't people understand that? And then she talked to me about what grandma used to do to her. I told her, "Exactly and that's why you have so much resentment against grandma. Do you want him to have resentment against you?!" And she said, "Well do you want me to die?" WTH? We're supposed to be focusing on helping my nephew, not on believing your mom's method is superior to all the psychological evidence. I'm about to have a nervous breakdown myself. I am not tired of my nephew. I'm tired of people's attitudes towards my poor nephew.

[AshCim_Kpop]

I’ve only recently been diagnosed with autism, not severe, but my main thing is I cry, get mad and just yell. My mum has started trying to help with meltdowns now but I hate them. My main trigger is change and the covid 19 situation with school isn’t helping much at all. My mum will tell me things about school (not realising it’s 1 of my triggers) and she won’t always know when the meltdown is about to transition so at first gets a bit mad and can yell back but eventually will try help. With the covid situation and other things going on I have gone from being able to control my meltdowns (around once a week) 2 like every other day. And they happen whenever they want. Like I literally just had 1 at 3:30 in the morning because my cat had come in room and ripped a bit of my blanket.

[bettygonzalez]

WatchEd a couple of your videos so far, excited to apply it with our Ethan. He is about to be five and has autism and the (meltdowns) are definitely increased to about every two hours. Thank you

[rachaelbond]

Watching these videos after having another emotional breakdown after finally calming my toddler after his meltdown. Im 100 percent sure he is autistic. He just turned 2 and it breaks my heart. He has these melt down daily and its so hard. He bites his self, head butts things hard, kicks ect. He tip toe walks, the smallest things upset him, he doesn't talk yet, he only plays with things that are round or spin. If he has a car he flips it and spins the wheel stuff like that. He also has 3 tics he does with his hands and fingers all day long. He spins on circles. Im worried about him as ive never dealt with autism before and I just want a happy healthy child but when he gets these episodes when he is upset I feel hopeless. Im looking into a specialist to get him diagnosed and some help. I have 2 older boys so I no this is more than just toddler things. I need help on calming him because it's really taking a toll on me and I feel helpless. He has been doing this almost a year now and just turned 2 Dec 28th

[JamieRidge-mick]

Thank you so much for your channel and videos, I appreciate the hard work and time it takes for you to do all of this! Much appreciated

[liezelquirabo]

thank you so much for this very useful tips...

[alienking]

Currently trying to handle my meltdown right now. I was a late diagnosis and my mom won't believe me. I have so many meltdowns I'm so tired of having them and having my mom either ignore me or talk down to me like "chill out, stop having a tantrum" or the classic "oh please, it wasn't that bad get over it" I don't know what to do or what to do to get help.

[yoeli]

Yes, prevention is key! So true! So happy I found your channel! Great work!

[sirwreck]

I love you!!!! You are so helpful... Saving for your vids.

[monkeypantz]

thank u very much for this video I've been looking for tips bout this

[hasnain]

My 3 year old son recently diagnosed with minor autism, and he is currently receiving therapies in early start program school 3 times a week for 2 hours each for the last three weeks but i dont see any behavioral change in him. He still screams, yells and hit his twin brother, myself and his mom during his meltdown or out of frustration...what can we do to make it better i know it wont change in few days we gotta keep trying it which we are ready to do. God bless everyone!!

[chriscook]

How do you not understand meltdown....screeming crying refusing to calm down🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️ my autistic grandson has the same reaction everytime he doesnt get to do what he wants to do.🙂 hes only 2..Only time he melts down is usually when we stop him on his way to tour chaotically.We play peek a boo...it changes his thoughts to run off...and he has no reaction to no or time out.🤷‍♀️Hes nonverbal.but has a smile that can melt the artic!⚘💞

[gaming_teacher]

I stumbled across your videos the other day, I work in a daycare with 2 year olds and my oldest child in my class displays some of the signs of autism (in my opinion)He has “meltdowns” and is non-verbal (but his mom is taking him to be evaluated for speech this week)

[billzbadd]

My 3 year old nephew would be on the iPad when it goes off she screams and cry and gets frustrated won't stop crying until we turn on the TV or me giving him my phone what can I do

[BratzFanz]

My little cousin who’s autistic will steal things like perfume, candy and anything he can get his hands on. It’s been horrible. He fights his siblings and he tries to constantly hit his grandmother and mom. They’re at a loss. They’re waiting to get him on a therapist but he’s on a waiting list. It’s makes no sense and even when we correct him verbally he lashed out and tries to hit the person that’s nearest to him. It’s really unacceptable because he hides things, steals, curse, violent, etc.

[skinner]

Hi, do you have any videos that would help me help my sons 3 year old autistic child sleep? at the moment she will sleep for an hour or two then wake and scream for about 2 hours. fall asleep again for an hour or so and be awake screaming again. for the last four days she has slept very little, she doesn't take naps during the day. would be grateful for some tips i could use.

[jmb]

mam my nephew he's 5 going on six every time he comes over to our house used to not do this he runs around jumping screams and cries a lot when there's nothing wrong with them