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What are the most common triggers and calming tactics for a meltdown?

James Stark

Hello all, 

I am new here but not new to autism. We have a 12 year old son, who (after many years of trying) only last September got diagnosed. Our son can be the nicest of kids at times, but so often gets with the wrong crowd and gets himself into all sorts of trouble. He has just changed school on a trial as he was not doing very well at his last one in the hope that they are able to help him.

I am also studying at the OU, doing a design degree. This year I am doing a project on our son and others like him as a high functioning autistic. Most of the problems that gets him into the most trouble is when his starts to get upset and all his little triggers set him off into a meltdown. We do recognise when this starts, so can sometimes prevent a meltdown to let him calm him down. But it is a learning curve. 

My goal is to find most of his common triggers and work out the right calming tactics for a meltdown. Hopefully with this knowledge I can help other children like him, teachers and parents.

Any help or feedback is very welcome, I would love to hear about any obvious triggers other children like him have and what helps prevent them blowing up. 

  • Ear defenders!! Seriously, when I am 'sperging out I find a set of ear defenders very comforting..

    I've always felt like the reduction in sound frees up some brain processing power, which is probably incorrect but the relief i get is real enough. 

  • Many things can be triggers.  With some of the service users I once worked with at an autism unit, it could be things like someone whistling, being told 'no', being given too many instructions at once... and, of course, unexpected changes to routines.

    For me personally, it's having too many things happening at once: needing to multitask.  I'm not always aware of how quickly the anxiety is building up inside me.  So, I can be under pressure with a task, and then something else happens to escalate it, and before I know it I'm at screaming stage.  Anyone shouting at me will always trigger me.

  • in reply to NAS39248

    Too many instructions is one that we know sets him off, but just reading this reminded how water is the face really stresses him out.

  • Hi My daughter is 8 and still awaiting assessment, I think everyone has different triggers and these can vary massively even day to day. My daughter is prone to meltdown after sudden noises not all noises the worst culprit is lorries air brakes once she has been startled then slightest change in routine or deviation from the normal will trigger meltdown even if it normally wouldn't. The same can be said if water splashes her face, really big problem when inconsiderate car drivers aim for puddles, another is having to use public toilets in the thought of being separated from me (not sure what to do about that one!) she has many more!