When my son is about to have a meltdown, we stop or slow down depending on what kind of outcome we expect, will he simply fuss, or become totally uncooperative? the signs are different with both 'A' and 'D'. In these circumstances I find myself constantly re-assessing strengths, sensory issues, and body language.
When my son has an anxiety or phobia (I don't consider sensory or environmental issues to be anything less in autism) we try our best to accommodate when in need. Our intentions are to raise them as typical children as much as possible. So many of their stressors and sensory issues can be explained by the health of their nervous system, and digestive systems. Some days a blender will set them off, other days they will remember to run and hide. check out the seven levels of fear here.
Our favourite relaxation strategies here are quite simple; my boys are just coming out of the preschool years, yet developmentally are still there. Comfort items are something many typical child have, but with autism these can be lifesavers. We watch familiar shows over and over again until their anxieties dissipate. Fall back on consistent meal options, and familiar routines whenever necessary. We spend time close together, either watching a movie or playing. Nowadays we are working on breathing exercises, basic yoga poses, empathy skills, warm bubble baths, togetherness, and upgraded educational toys that are great for stimming. An autistic child is overworked when he is having a meltdown, it is a sign that he needs more time for sorting out his thoughts or 'stimming'.
Another huge aspect of anxiety management for us, is grounding. Reminders about their responsibilities to be self-aware and conscious of others before themselves. Helping them to withdraw their hypersensitivity of their environment or worries. You can do this by thinking about a balloon, gradually letting the air out makes it smaller and less imposing. Teaching them to be more concerned with their own physical selves from the environment. Bringing their attention to what their actions are and what they are feeling. Realism or a reality check is usually the ultimate cure to a wildly out there meltdown, you need to calm the autism before communicating with the child.
Exposure works great. I happen to like finding child-sense uses and experiences with the situation causing anxiety, so providing a basis for them to relate easily, acknowledging their right to curiosity before even broaching the subject of stepping into it. I also like to use challenge chaining, providing a like opportunity or toy that is slightly less imposing on the senses, as a ladder to the tougher tools. An example would be a toy vacuum.
Most importantly be ready for a regression or relapse in self-management of anxieties. These can occur from so many things, diet, environment, stress, too much pressure, poor energy management, not having a break when needed, sensory over stimulation or under stimulation.
Diet is a serious issue with anxieties. Experiment, and find what foods and drinks calm your child. The greatest challenge I had seen to helping them to eat healthy foods is the immediate calming effect and dampening of the senses, or slowing of the nervous system that junk and fast food has on an autistic person.
SELF HELP CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy)
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