Top 5 Ways to Help Someone With Autism Who Is Overloading or Melting Down
Overloads and meltdowns are a part of life for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder. While they are more common for some people than others, they happen in some form or another for nearly all people with Autism at some point. As their caring, friend, family member, co-worker, classmate, or otherwise; it can be difficult to manage these situations. You want to help, but you are unsure how to.
A little about me, my name is David Walby. I was diagnosed with Autism when I was a young child. I have experienced both meltdowns and overloads. While I rarely have a meltdown, I do still occasionally have an overload. I have also been on the other side of the coin where I am helping other people through an overload or meltdown. I have a unique situation and whenever possible I seek to use this position to help others. Overloads and meltdowns may be difficult to manage, but they are far from impossible. These are the top five ways to help someone who is overloading or melting down, but first a few key details.
Before getting into how to help a person who is overloading or melting down, it is important to know what overloads/ meltdowns are and their warning signs.
What Is an Overload?:
An overload is easy to understand when you break it down into its base parts. An overload (Also sometimes called a sensory overload) is when a person with Autism becomes “overloaded” with sensory input beyond what they can process. If you have been in a situation where you feel completely overwhelmed and there is too much going on, then you have felt a situation similar to how an overload feels. While an overload can be caused by things like loud noises, it can also be caused by something like being unable to follow a certain routine. Not being able to follow the routine leads them to becoming stressed and that stress causes an overload and even a meltdown.
Warning Signs of An Overload:
Some of the warning signs of an overload are:
The person is having trouble focusing or paying attention.
They are acting restless or are extra fidgety.
They are covering their ears, closing their eyes, or otherwise attempting to block out sensory input.
They appear extra irritable, on edge, or stressed.
They tell you they are overloaded. (A lot of times a person with Autism can tell when they are in the process of overloading. Listening to them when they say this can help prevent a meltdown.)
While a person with Autism may not display all of these symptoms while overloading or may experience these symptoms without overloading, they are good markers to look out for. If you think they might be having an overload, talk to them and have open communication.
What Is a Meltdown?:
A meltdown is the stage that comes after an overload if the person with Autism was unable to calm down. A meltdown occurs when a person with Autism becomes unable to handle the stimuli of what is stressing them, and they lose control. If an overload is the buildup of pressure, a meltdown is the forceful release of that pressure.
Warning Signs of a Meltdown:
The warning sign of a meltdown is an overload. Whenever possible it is best to recognize the signs of an overload and calm the person down before they reach the point of melting down. The symptoms of a meltdown can vary, but according to the National Autistic Society common symptoms of a meltdown are completely withdrawing or fleeing from the situation, reacting verbally by screaming and/ or crying, and sometimes even with physical violence.
Now that you understand what both an overload and a meltdown are and how to recognize them, we can move on to the:
Top 5 Ways to Help Someone Who Is Overloading or Melting Down:
Number 1: Identify the source of the overstimulation and remove the person from the situation or minimize the source for them as much as possible.
This could take the form of being in a restaurant where the music is too loud. In this situation, you could choose to eat somewhere else or ask the staff to turn down the music. Another situation that could arise is that they are trying to do a certain activity, but they become unable to for some reason. Here, if you are unable to help them do the activity, they want to do you could substitute it for something else to engage them or find another way to shift their attention.
Number 2: Have patience with them and do not judge.
Having patience with a person that is overloading or melting down is extremely important. Remaining calm will help you deal with the situation better and make it easier for the other person to calm down. It is important that you both sound calm and act calm as well. If they feel that you are frustrated with them or judging them for their behavior, they will close themselves off and feel self-conscious. All of this will add to their overstimulation and make the situation worse. At this point, you will be unable to help them as they will have shut down.
Number 3: Ask them if they are okay and if they need anything.
Keep in mind that while they are overloading, they may be slow to respond and if they are in the process of melting down, they may not respond at all. Depending on what they say, if they ask for something and you can get it for them, it will help them calm down. This could be something as simple as a hug or even just to give them some space.
Number 4: Give them some space.
Once you have done what you can to help them calm down, it is usually best to give them some space if possible. While you should still be close enough to help them if they need you, giving them a little room will help them calm down at their own pace without feeling rushed.
Number 5: Express care and be supportive.
Knowing that they have a person that cares and will support them will help them calm down from a meltdown or overload. Show them that you care and support them, but do not be forceful about it. This gives the person the option to engage with you if they feel the need to, but they are not forced to, which might add to their stress. Even if they do not want to communicate with you at the moment you still let them know that you care about them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, an overload/ meltdown can be a stressful situation for everyone involved, but with a little help, it can become much less so. With the right support, overloads can be lessened, and meltdowns averted and both yourself and the person with autism will appreciate this. A little bit of support can make a large difference in the lives and experiences of the people around you.
Bibliography:
[1] Meltdowns - a guide for all audiences [Internet]. www.autism.org.uk. [cited 2023 Aug 2]. Available from: https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/behaviour/meltdowns/all-audiences#:~:text=It%20happens%20when%20someone%20becomes
