I’ve got a feeling.  That feeling is telling me that today is going to be a rough day, at least as far as Elliott’s concerned.

He’s having a mixed morning and is very easily agitated.

I can already see how some of this is likely to play out.  Elliott will have fun today, only to crash tonight.

In my experience, kids on the #Autism spectrum can do okay for a little while but once that threshold is reached, it’s all down hill. This is when we tend to see those #Autism or SPD related meltdowns.

If an #Autistic child or adult has a meltdown, more likely than not, they are completely overwhelmed and their body needs to purge.

Anything can be contributing to this.  Lights, sounds, smells, clothes, touch, textures, colors and even expectation or emotional interactions. This is just a few possibilities and are things my kids are sensitive to.  Everyone is different.

Basically, my kids just absorb everything around them all at once and it completely overwhelms their senses.  Sometimes, it gets to be more than they can cope with and all the anxiety has to come out.

The meltdown is the Avenue most commonly found to vent and purge.

Something I feel very strongly about is that,  these meltdowns are not a reflection of the person behind them.  They are not spoiled brats and most certainly are not in control of that moment.

Meltdowns should not be confused with tantrums.

Tantrums are willful acts, geared at getting something, even attention, through manipulation.  The best example of tantrums I can think of is Gavin.  What Gavin does is a tantrum. He has complete control and can stop at will.

Elliott and Emmett have meltdowns. They have little if any control over these.

I just wanted to put this out there in case you come into contact with someone having a meltdown.

Please be supportive and give them their space. Don’t judge a person based this behavior.

I’m hoping that my kids don’t have a meltdown today but I’m prepared anyway.

Best of luck to you and yours on this very overstimulating American holiday.  🙂