What if there were an easy way to manage an autism meltdown?
The solution may be at your fingertips!

Imagine if you had a way to manage meltdowns before they grew out of control…

If you no longer had to worry about:

  • Tantrum vs meltdownGetting kicked out of your favorite restaurant because your child is too “loud” and “unruly”…
  • Feeling everything coming at you at once, magnified, and completely shutting down in public places…
  • Having the school call you to pick up your child YET AGAIN because they can’t seem to “reel him in…”
  • Feeling nauseous, frozen and stuck in overwhelming social situations…

Imagine being able to instantly interrupt a meltdown and provide fast relief for yourself or for your child.

If I had a nickel for every time my son’s inability to cope with an overwhelming sensory environment was labeled a temper tantrum or behavior disorder I’d be able to retire! We’ve had to leave restaurants before our food even came. We’ve been kicked out of movie theaters, retail stores and even off an AIRLINE because of his sensory meltdowns.

My son has wandered dangerously and gone missing to escape the chaos of an overwhelming environment. My daughter has refused to get out of the car at social or family events – and even vomited – because she couldn’t breathe from anxiety. We have left vacations early and repeatedly turned down plans at the last minute…

all because of meltdowns.

What IS a meltdown?

Too LoudIf you’re autistic or are the parent of an autistic child, I’m sure you’re extremely familiar with meltdowns…

Basically, it’s what happens when the brain receives WAY too much information – most often sensory input – and cannot process this information in a conventional, organized manner. “Sensory Processing” refers to the way the nervous system receives messages from the senses and turns them into appropriate motor and behavioral responses.

As an autism parent, I’ve learned over the last 14+ years that when my children are overwhelmed by the sensory triggers in their environment they are immediately thrown into survival mode – it is pure physical and psychological torture for them. Their senses are on fire and they have little control over themselves.

For my kids, my colleagues and my clients, a meltdown feels nothing short of overwhelming, paralyzing and out of control…

It’s like their “browser” has too many tabs open and crashes, only it’s their entire body. Their brain hits Ctrl-Alt-Del automatically, causing fatigue, disorientation and the loss of ability to speak.

And it’s behind nearly all of what everyone else sees as “bad behavior.”

What about autism-related anxiety?

My daughter regularly experiences a great deal of anxiety, from mild social panic to levels that throw her into severe paralysis. Part of her Aspergers is holding on to a negative thought and obsessing about it until she shuts down completely. While she is learning to recognize her triggers and employ some tools through therapy, this is not something she can easily control.

Once her “fight or flight” response has been activated, regardless of the reason, it is impossible for her to simply “snap out of it,” or talk herself out of a complete meltdown.

autism anxietyFor her, it feels like she’s in a tiny glass case and can feel her fear and anxiety climbing up her body and suffocating her. And there’s no escape.

Sometimes it’s not even due to an event. She can simply experience many emotions at the same time during a meltdown: fear, anger, sadness, hopelessness… and then she loses her ability to speak or respond logically. Everything feels like a crisis, like it’s a life or death situation.

Her brain doesn’t care that there’s no real danger…

Being rational does not alleviate an autism anxiety meltdown.

Meltdowns can be dangerous

As a single mom of two autistic teenagers, I’ve SIBseen how meltdowns have paralyzed my daughter for hours and physically tortured my son to the point of complete shutdown…

Even more terrifying – my son has wandered away from an overwhelming situation on more than one occasion and gone missing for hours!

As an EMT, I’ve responded to calls where meltdowns caused escalated – and even violent – behavior in children and adults alike. First responders, unfortunately, sometimes must resort to aggressive means to get the situation under control.

Because of this, I developed an autism training program for emergency responders, where I teach police officers, firefighters, EMTs and disaster responders how to recognize autism, and I provide practical tools to use in the field that help everyone get home safe at the end of the day.

My work is impacting thousands of emergency responders here in Georgia and surrounding areas…

BUT this doesn’t immediately help autism families. I knew there had to be a way to help even more, to address some of these issues at the root.

As an emergency responder myself, I’ve noticed that the biggest reason families call 911 and get public safety involved in the first place is because a situation has escalated to the point where the family feels they can no longer safely intervene.

Many times this starts with a meltdown.

I know that it’s a malfunction of the nervous system, not a tantrum…

But emergency responders that haven’t yet had my training don’t understand meltdowns, and the situation can – and often does – go downhill. Fast.

Learning to manage overwhelm before it escalates is key. It lessens your chances of having to get outside parties, like public safety, involved.

How I can help

TappingMy powerful method offers a systematic way to address and short-circuit the barrage of sensory information coming in…

or the obsessive, negative thoughts and instantly calm the part of the brain that can, in turn, soothe the nervous system.

Whether overwhelm occurs from sensory input (like my son experiences)…

Or manifests as severe anxiety (like my daughter experiences)…

I found a way to help manage this overwhelm before it turns into a full blown meltdown.

This simple tool taps directly into the nervous system, acting as a type of stimming, or self-stimulatory behavior… calming the body when it gets overwhelmed.

You can learn this easy method to help manage your child’s meltdowns, or if you’re a teen or adult with autism you can learn to use it on yourself!

  • Just imagine, when you’re out with friends and start to feel overwhelmed by the sights, sounds and smells of the coffee shop…
    … being able to cut the intensity to a manageable level so you can stay and enjoy your friends.
  • When your child starts acting out and even harming him or herself…
    … swiftly and safely stopping the behavior and bringing fast relief for them.
  • When you have to make a phone call and your mouth is so dry you feel like you licked a cat…
    … being able to “feel the fear and do it anyway,” allowing you to handle your personal business much more effectively.
  • When everyone is talking at once and the pressure feels like you will explode…
    … having the ability to relieve that pressure and tune in to what’s important.

CalmYou can now have a discreet tool literally at your fingertips to instantly calm yourself or your child.

When I discovered a method that helped my children, trusted colleagues and clients quickly regain control over their nervous system and relieved their symptoms in the moment, I realized that I wanted to help others that also struggle with this issue daily.

By the way, I even use it on myself when I’m under extreme stress!

>>Apply for a complimentary consultation today<<

Click below to fill out an application so I can understand your specific triggers and struggles and help you take back control of your body, your brain and your life :)

Yes! I want to manage my meltdowns!

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The author of this website is not engaged in rendering professional advice or services to the individual reader. The ideas, procedures, and suggestions contained in this website or product offered within the website are not intended as a substitute for consulting with your physician. All matters regarding your health may require medical supervision. The author is not liable or responsible for any loss or damage allegedly arising from any information or suggestion within this website.

Meltdown Management Coaching in no way attempts to “cure” any symptoms or behaviors associated with autism spectrum disorder. It is simply a tool to help manage meltdown situations for you or your child.

 


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