An autistic child is often over-stimulated by factors such as physical contact, sound and light; he may also feel overwhelmed or whipped by sudden events, such as changes in routine. Because she often has difficulty understanding or communicating her experiences, she can experience nervous breakdowns, during which she can scream, wriggle frantically, destroy things, or even respond violently to people. He tends to fidget quite often, so it's important for parents to know how to calm him down. However, every child is different, so you should try various techniques to find the one that works best for your child.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Preventing and Managing Nerve Crises
Step 1. Find out what triggered the nervous breakdown
Finding the cause can help prevent it from occurring and is an important aspect to consider when trying to calm the baby down. Observe him and try to understand what can trigger some of his behaviors; if a parent or guardian knows the cause of the crisis, they can also prevent it.
- Keep a notepad in which to write down the most common factors responsible for violent reactions, to prevent them from occurring; if you wish, you can also use a smartphone app to monitor episodes and related causes.
- Some of the main factors are changes or alterations in normal routine, excessive stimulation, frustration and communication difficulties.
- Breakdowns are different from tantrums. The latter are voluntary behaviors, they represent a bit of a power play and end when you give in to the request. Nerve breakdowns occur when the autistic child is so stressed that he is unable to control himself, feels helpless, and such episodes do not stop until they have run their course.
Step 2. Keep a routine
When a regular schedule is followed, the child constantly knows what is going to happen and this helps him stay calm.
- You can prepare illustrations of the daily schedule, so that the child can also view the routine of the day or week.
- If you know that on any given day there will be a change in normal activities, you need to take the time to prepare the child for the event; talk to him in advance and inform him of the changes clearly and patiently.
- If you have to introduce the child to a new environment, it is better to choose the moment when there are few stimuli present; this means wearing it when there are few noises or few people.
Step 3. Speak clearly to your child
Verbal communication is a source of frustration for many autistic children; you must speak to him patiently, with respect and express yourself in words that are understandable to him.
- Don't yell or use an aggressive tone, otherwise you can aggravate the nervous breakdowns.
- If verbal communication is difficult, try using drawing or Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).
- Remember that dialogue follows two directions. You must always listen to the child and make him understand that you appreciate and respect what he says; ask him questions if you need more clarification, to prevent him from having a crisis due to the sense of frustration.
Step 4. Distract him if you are concerned that the cause is emotional / psychological in nature
When he has a nervous breakdown episode, sometimes it is necessary to calm him down by shifting his attention to something else. Try making him play with his favorite toy, have him watch his favorite video or listen to the song he likes best; if you can, encourage him to take care of his particular interests.
- However, distraction isn't always effective; for example, asking him questions about your sister's rock collection might distract him from the vaccine fear he has to do, but it might not work if his problem is the discomfort he feels on his skin due to a seam in his dress.
- When the child regains his composure, it is a good idea to talk to him about what made him angry or stimulated the reaction. Ask him what happened and work together to find ways to prevent similar situations from happening again.
Step 5. Change your surroundings
The baby may be agitated because he is oversensitive and overly stimulated. When such a situation arises, it is advisable to simply take it to another place or change the circumstance (for example, turning off the music that is too loud) to reduce the stimulus that is too intense.
- For example, if he cannot stand fluorescent lights, it is better to take him to another room where there is another kind of lighting, rather than forcing him to "endure" that kind of light.
- If it is not possible to change the situation or environment, you must take precautions to protect the child; for example, you can make him wear sunglasses (to avoid hypersensitivity to light) or ear plugs (to muffle loud noises) when you are in public places. Find different solutions to protect it.
Step 6. Give him some space
Sometimes, children simply need time to feel ready for daily activities again. Leave it quiet for a while so it calms down, preferably in an area with little sensory stimulation.
Take security into consideration. Never leave a small child alone without adult supervision or locked in a room; make sure he is safe and able to leave if he wishes
Step 7. After your nervous breakdown, talk to him
Use a proactive, solution-oriented approach: Instead of blaming or punishing him, talk to him to find ways to prevent these episodes from happening again and to better manage stress. Try addressing these topics:
- Ask him what he thinks is the cause of his nervous breakdown (listen to him patiently);
- How can similar situations be avoided in the future;
- Look for more effective strategies to deal with the problem (take a break, count, take deep breaths, ask to be able to leave, and so on);
- An escape plan to stop future episodes of crisis.
Part 2 of 3: Calming the Child Using Deep Pressure
Step 1. Apply deep pressure
Autistic children often have different sensory processes, which can be stressful or even painful; with this technique, you help the muscles to relax.
- Wrap the baby tightly in a blanket or different spreads over his body; the weight should create a soothing pressure, but be careful not to cover his face so as not to hinder breathing.
- You can order online or create specific tools to apply deep pressure; Heavy blankets, toys, clothing, and padded rugs are all viable alternatives.
Step 2. Give him a deep massage
This is a perfect technique for interacting with the child, applying deep pressure at the same time and strengthening the parent-child bond. Put the baby between your legs; keep your hands cupped on his shoulders and apply pressure; then move your hands slowly along his arms and shoulders.
If you don't feel comfortable, you can ask a massage therapist or someone really experienced in the correct manipulation of the back for advice
Step 3. Test the pressure with the pillows
Have the baby lie down or sit on a soft surface such as a pillow or pillow and use a second pillow to apply pressure to the chest, arms and legs slowly and intermittently.
Never cover his face to avoid accidentally choking him
Part 3 of 3: Calming the Child with Vestibular Stimulation Exercises
Step 1. Understand the mechanism of action of vestibular stimulation exercises
The vestibular apparatus contributes to balance and spatial orientation; the exercises that involve it help the child to calm down thanks to rocking or rocking movements.
The repetitive movements calm the child and bring his attention back to the physical sensations
Step 2. Rock it back and forth
Put the baby on a swing and push it gently. Change the speed of movement, slowing down or speeding up, until the baby calms down; if you feel this remedy makes the situation worse, stop.
- It is worth installing a swing at home to best incorporate this technique to the rest of the treatments; this allows you to access it regardless of the weather conditions.
- Some babies are able to swing on their own; if so, suggest that your child go on the swing to calm down.
Step 3. Turn him over in a chair
Rotation also represents vestibular stimulation; is able to actively stop a nervous breakdown by transferring attention from the triggering cause to the physical sensation.
- Office chairs are very suitable for this purpose, because they turn on themselves without difficulty.
- Make sure the baby is seated securely and let him turn slowly to avoid injury.
- Some children prefer to keep their eyes open, others close them.
Advice
- Speak in a calm, reassuring tone.
- Acknowledge and deal with your feelings of frustration to avoid taking them out on the baby.
- Regularly discuss with teachers and other carers for the child to ensure a consistent approach.
Warnings
- If the baby is waving or throwing objects, approach them carefully, otherwise you could make him feel with his back against the wall and in this case he could even accidentally injure you.
- If you are concerned that he may harm himself and others, or you feel overwhelmed by his fits and do not know what to do, ask for help from another person.
