My 5 yr old daughter has been diagnosed with PDD-NOS....in the last week or so when she has a meltdown she has become more violent than usual and has started to run away; if we are outside she just runs off if we are inside she goes out the front door.
I now have to keep my front door locked and my keys hidden (keys have been lost several times as my memory is awful!)
I just need ways to cope with her trying to run off/out...help? 
Hi Chezzy,
I feel your pain.
My daughter is 12yrs old now, but has been running off since she was 3yrs old. It is still difficult now, and we still have to lock the front door and hide the keys, and yes, I've lost them too.
The only thing that seems to work for us, is to keep her permanently engaged in something when we're out. When she was small it was ' I Spy' and letting her run the distance of 2 lamp posts and back to tire her out, but when the meltdowns come it's best to avoid the discussion altogether and do your best to ignore her bad behaviour by distracting her, until you get home. No-ones perfect though and it's very hard especially if your daughters very strong and good at running. I've raced down the street many times after my daughter and been bitten and kicked by her when I've tried to hold her to stop her running off again. Very upsetting and embarrasssing too.
All I can honestly say, is that it does get easier as they get older, but only because you don't have to go after them. If my daughter runs off now, I just let her go as I know she will be back when she's ready, and when she returns I just ignore it as she's forgotten it anyway. I'm considering putting a gps on her phone so I know where she is but that's all I can do. You can limit the aggression in the meltdowns by not talking too much but I don't think you'll be able to get rid of them altogether.
This is probably not that helpful to you I know, but rest assured that there are plenty of parents out there struggling with exactly the same problem as you.
Wishing you well 
Hi Chezzy,
I feel your pain.
My daughter is 12yrs old now, but has been running off since she was 3yrs old. It is still difficult now, and we still have to lock the front door and hide the keys, and yes, I've lost them too.
The only thing that seems to work for us, is to keep her permanently engaged in something when we're out. When she was small it was ' I Spy' and letting her run the distance of 2 lamp posts and back to tire her out, but when the meltdowns come it's best to avoid the discussion altogether and do your best to ignore her bad behaviour by distracting her, until you get home. No-ones perfect though and it's very hard especially if your daughters very strong and good at running. I've raced down the street many times after my daughter and been bitten and kicked by her when I've tried to hold her to stop her running off again. Very upsetting and embarrasssing too.
All I can honestly say, is that it does get easier as they get older, but only because you don't have to go after them. If my daughter runs off now, I just let her go as I know she will be back when she's ready, and when she returns I just ignore it as she's forgotten it anyway. I'm considering putting a gps on her phone so I know where she is but that's all I can do. You can limit the aggression in the meltdowns by not talking too much but I don't think you'll be able to get rid of them altogether.
This is probably not that helpful to you I know, but rest assured that there are plenty of parents out there struggling with exactly the same problem as you.
Wishing you well
