My son’s meltdowns got more intense as he got older. He would try to hold them in and it made it worse. That lead to sensory migraines that caused crying, anxiety and vomiting. They still happen, just not as often. I’m 99% sure he has apraxia but we could never get that piece diagnosed. When he was in school he would try to hold it together, but once he got home, it all came out. So sad. He’s 17 now and still can’t do change, heat, loud noises, crowds, strangers. Thankfully I am his person so he can come to me and we work through it together. One on one talks work way better for him than in a group.
I am autistic. I don't have as many meltdowns as Idid when I was younger, but some of my triggers include transitions, change, and the unexpected. The environment contributes some, but it's not the main trigger. It is definitely an anxiety issue that builds all day long for me.
Emily, you are so right. You need to handle things the way that works for you, Sawyer and your family. My son wasn't diagnosed till he was 14 even though I had pleaded with his paediatrician to have him tested. Thankfully I learned through trial and error what worked for my son, who had also been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder when he was around 7. What I learned, in regard to meltdowns, in his teenage years.,.,....and boy those meltdown were wild till I learned MY lessons.....was to simply make sure he was in a safe environment, away from any sharp objects and to walk away to let him work through his feelings and emotions. Once he had calmed himself I would go and comfort him in the way he was comfortable with and I'd sit down with hIm and we'd unpack and sort out those feelings and emotions and whatever events that had driven him into his meltdown. I found that this was a also a great way for us to bond and have open and honest dialogue with each other. My son, who is now in his early 20s, knows he can talk to me about anything and he has often opened up to me. You are doing an amazing job of raising your kids despite all of the challenges you have had to face. Your children are blessed to call you mum. I pray the very best for you and your family.
My daughter has had some crazy meltdowns in her life - she’s 31 and monster strong. She is deaf along with everything else that’s going on with her and alot of her meltdowns are either from not getting her own way or a new situation. When she doesn’t get her own way she is violent with me and herself. I just act like she’s done something wrong because I can’t reason or reassure her at all so I wag my finger at her like I’m scolding her and it looks like I’m yelling but like I said she’s deaf so I’m silent scolding lol - I put her in time out when I do this and actually wait for her to cry. Might sound mean but her meltdowns are dangerous for all of us and we need to get past them. She can’t control whatever has upset her so she just loses it and loses control. If she cries it breaks the anger and she gets sad - then I swoop in and give hugs and kisses and we try to just go back to what she was doing. She still loses it big time and on the rare occasion she does she lands up in her padded safety bed so no one gets hurt.
You and will are such wonderful parents Emily!! I highly recommend you watch Fathering Autism’s videos in the beginning. He has many tips and tricks from when Abbie was younger and also has their ABA therapist there a lot who talks about it too and the ways to prevent them and work thru them. I know ABA was not a good fit for you with that company and you have to be comfortable. I will say if you watch landing crew, fathering autism, Lauren BraZee, and the Wee family they are all autism families and some I am forgetting but they all did ABA in the beginning with their kiddos and sown still do and most of the kids who started around Sawyers age are thriving now in regards to behaviors. May be worth Reaching out to them for advice and also seeing about maybe just ABA for one at a time like Sawyer first and start with small hours and add more if needed.
I am most likely autistic and I want to thank you for not showing videos of his meltdowns like many other parents of autistic kids do online. It means a lot to the autistic community because it’s so common and demeaning to show a kids worst moments for all of the internet to see.
Bless your heart. God gave you the patience of Job to live this life with multi special needs children. I can emphasize whole heartedly with you and I only had one child with a horrible speech problem. We were in speech lessons at two, so yes, it was caught early. However it was misdiagnosed until he was nine! When his nephew was born 22 years later with the same feeding problems , the nephew was immediately diagnosed as tongue tied. My son was never checked for this and if checked today, I think it would be found this was the cause of a still lingering speech problem.
Great explanation. I always question about that. U answered my question. Special mom is very dtrong. Ur amazing. I dont understand why theres thumb down button. Maybe they have the cell phone upside down. Cuz ur explanation is amazing.
I'm in the process of getting an autism diagnosis as an adult and for me I noticed fat meltdowns are situational it's a pens on like you said weather there's sensory overload or if you just had a uncomfortable conversation with someone where are you might've thought you made someone upset and for whatever the situation is for me I'm not processing any of that like I'm not able to realize that I am getting upset until I melt down or shut down and for me having hey sensory I think that I like to help ground me and also doing something I like to be able to not deal with whatever the situation is is helpful.
I want to know how you do your hair or I will have a meltdown myself 😂 I have the same texture & can never have it done so nice 🥰 also have an autistic sweet boy with lots of meltdowns so… having nice hair helps w/ the mood sometimes 😂😂xoxo
Will weighted blankets help both Sawyer & Griffin when they are in a breakdown/meltdown?? I know you had questions, did you get a positive diagnoses of autism?
So if Sawyer is a sensory seeker and likes hugs and swinging and rocking I will try to do some of those things with him when he is in a meltdown if you feel safe to do that when you take him to the room and he's screaming I would hold him and just rock him let him scream obviously make sure he's not gonna hit or bite you but just rock with him maybe Counselor you're rocking to see if I can help calm him down faster. And for some people with autism when they are more verbal after they're done you can talk to them and find out what upset him or maybe how they can handle the situation differently the next time it doesn't work for everyone but maybe in the future that will work for him. I don't feel bad that you're using a tablet for him it's helping him with his meltdown it's helping him deal with the situation that he doesn't know how to deal with yet. And if he's good with numbers I will try getting him hey Digital clock start doing time with him so when you take him to a new place you can give them a certain time when you plan on leaving and just remind him of that every so often and maybe that will help him realize OK it's this time that means we have to go home now
My son’s meltdowns got more intense as he got older. He would try to hold them in and it made it worse. That lead to sensory migraines that caused crying, anxiety and vomiting. They still happen, just not as often. I’m 99% sure he has apraxia but we could never get that piece diagnosed.
When he was in school he would try to hold it together, but once he got home, it all came out. So sad.
He’s 17 now and still can’t do change, heat, loud noises, crowds, strangers. Thankfully I am his person so he can come to me and we work through it together. One on one talks work way better for him than in a group.
I am autistic. I don't have as many meltdowns as Idid when I was younger, but some of my triggers include transitions, change, and the unexpected. The environment contributes some, but it's not the main trigger. It is definitely an anxiety issue that builds all day long for me.
Thanks for your info!! This may help this family, and the boys, in their struggles.
Emily, you are so right. You need to handle things the way that works for you, Sawyer and your family. My son wasn't diagnosed till he was 14 even though I had pleaded with his paediatrician to have him tested. Thankfully I learned through trial and error what worked for my son, who had also been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder when he was around 7.
What I learned, in regard to meltdowns, in his teenage years.,.,....and boy those meltdown were wild till I learned MY lessons.....was to simply make sure he was in a safe environment, away from any sharp objects and to walk away to let him work through his feelings and emotions. Once he had calmed himself I would go and comfort him in the way he was comfortable with and I'd sit down with hIm and we'd unpack and sort out those feelings and emotions and whatever events that had driven him into his meltdown. I found that this was a also a great way for us to bond and have open and honest dialogue with each other. My son, who is now in his early 20s, knows he can talk to me about anything and he has often opened up to me.
You are doing an amazing job of raising your kids despite all of the challenges you have had to face. Your children are blessed to call you mum. I pray the very best for you and your family.
My daughter has had some crazy meltdowns in her life - she’s 31 and monster strong. She is deaf along with everything else that’s going on with her and alot of her meltdowns are either from not getting her own way or a new situation. When she doesn’t get her own way she is violent with me and herself. I just act like she’s done something wrong because I can’t reason or reassure her at all so I wag my finger at her like I’m scolding her and it looks like I’m yelling but like I said she’s deaf so I’m silent scolding lol - I put her in time out when I do this and actually wait for her to cry. Might sound mean but her meltdowns are dangerous for all of us and we need to get past them. She can’t control whatever has upset her so she just loses it and loses control. If she cries it breaks the anger and she gets sad - then I swoop in and give hugs and kisses and we try to just go back to what she was doing. She still loses it big time and on the rare occasion she does she lands up in her padded safety bed so no one gets hurt.
You and will are such wonderful parents Emily!! I highly recommend you watch Fathering Autism’s videos in the beginning. He has many tips and tricks from when Abbie was younger and also has their ABA therapist there a lot who talks about it too and the ways to prevent them and work thru them. I know ABA was not a good fit for you with that company and you have to be comfortable. I will say if you watch landing crew, fathering autism, Lauren BraZee, and the Wee family they are all autism families and some I am forgetting but they all did ABA in the beginning with their kiddos and sown still do and most of the kids who started around Sawyers age are thriving now in regards to behaviors. May be worth Reaching out to them for advice and also seeing about maybe just ABA for one at a time like Sawyer first and start with small hours and add more if needed.
I am most likely autistic and I want to thank you for not showing videos of his meltdowns like many other parents of autistic kids do online. It means a lot to the autistic community because it’s so common and demeaning to show a kids worst moments for all of the internet to see.
Bless your heart. God gave you the patience of Job to live this life with multi special needs children. I can emphasize whole heartedly with you and I only had one child with a horrible speech problem. We were in speech lessons at two, so yes, it was caught early. However it was misdiagnosed until he was nine! When his nephew was born 22 years later with the same feeding problems , the nephew was immediately diagnosed as tongue tied. My son was never checked for this and if checked today, I think it would be found this was the cause of a still lingering speech problem.
I admire you so much. You and Will are wonderful parents.
Love that sweater! Wish I knew where to get one! Have you heard of weighted vests, blankets, etc.? I wonder if something like that could help? 💖
Great explanation. I always question about that. U answered my question. Special mom is very dtrong. Ur amazing. I dont understand why theres thumb down button. Maybe they have the cell phone upside down. Cuz ur explanation is amazing.
I'm in the process of getting an autism diagnosis as an adult and for me I noticed fat meltdowns are situational it's a pens on like you said weather there's sensory overload or if you just had a uncomfortable conversation with someone where are you might've thought you made someone upset and for whatever the situation is for me I'm not processing any of that like I'm not able to realize that I am getting upset until I melt down or shut down and for me having hey sensory I think that I like to help ground me and also doing something I like to be able to not deal with whatever the situation is is helpful.
I want to know how you do your hair or I will have a meltdown myself 😂 I have the same texture & can never have it done so nice 🥰 also have an autistic sweet boy with lots of meltdowns so… having nice hair helps w/ the mood sometimes 😂😂xoxo
Will weighted blankets help both Sawyer & Griffin when they are in a breakdown/meltdown?? I know you had questions, did you get a positive diagnoses of autism?
For sawyer yes he’s diagnosed. She did a vid on it
@@crohniequeenab Okay, I missed that one…thank you
I have autism and ADHD. I sometimes have meltdowns. I have sencery issues with loud noises. I Cary a chew toy to I can chew on it
So if Sawyer is a sensory seeker and likes hugs and swinging and rocking I will try to do some of those things with him when he is in a meltdown if you feel safe to do that when you take him to the room and he's screaming I would hold him and just rock him let him scream obviously make sure he's not gonna hit or bite you but just rock with him maybe Counselor you're rocking to see if I can help calm him down faster. And for some people with autism when they are more verbal after they're done you can talk to them and find out what upset him or maybe how they can handle the situation differently the next time it doesn't work for everyone but maybe in the future that will work for him. I don't feel bad that you're using a tablet for him it's helping him with his meltdown it's helping him deal with the situation that he doesn't know how to deal with yet. And if he's good with numbers I will try getting him hey Digital clock start doing time with him so when you take him to a new place you can give them a certain time when you plan on leaving and just remind him of that every so often and maybe that will help him realize OK it's this time that means we have to go home now
Sorry that was supposed to say maybe count with him while you’re rocking.
Sorry if there are mistakes in any of my comments I’m also blind and Dyslexic I’m using a text to speech to write this. I
Besides calling the parents when the boys have a melt down how else dose the school help them calm down?