introduction
Having Autism and or Asperger’s syndrome. Is something that can have both good and bad sides to it. However, most of the time, it has mostly negative effects. If you are suffer with autism either at a younger or older age. You are probably prone to feeling as if you are not normal. As somebody who have suffer with with being on the spectrum at fourteen years old. Feeling as if I was not intelligent like the other kids in my class, I felt alienated at certain times, as if i was not normal and that i was stupid.
I felt singled out and stood out but not in a good way. Hence why I hated going to extra classes to help and would ignore help given to me by teachers. I didn’t anyone knowing about my autism in case of bullying. Having autism is something that I find difficult to adapt to when it comes to our daily lives. Such as it taking us a longer time to process things more than others. Having trouble when interacting with people or just socialising in general, having multiple sensory issues and multiple sensitive triggers. With most of the time it not being our fault we do or act a certain way around others.
How having Depression whilst being on the spectrum could affect daily life and school work?
Autistic meltdowns are mistaken as tantrums due to things such as stomping, screaming and screaming. Huddling up or crawling one’s self in a ball.
Dealing with depression whilst having autism something which has never really been up for discussion or debate. From the words of someone who has dealt with depression from the ages thirteen to sixteen years old. Those who suffer with autism are prone to suffer with serious meltdowns whenever they aren’t able to pick up on things as quickly as others. Having major problems with communicating with people , making spelling or grammatical errors by accident, or struggling to find a lost item.
These create feelings like frustration and too being overwhelmed. Having meltdowns whilst in a state of depression is something which can end badly. With the weight of both having autism and these depressive feelings weighing on you. This can cause said person to take out their anger and frustration on themselves by engaging in self harm. Even feeling as if they are not good enough for this world or for the people around them. And would to want take their own lives by committing suicide. This on top of having autism. But it can make you feel different from others because of being on the spectrum.
Primary Depression. Another way of describing somebody who has either Asperger’s or is Autistic and has depression. This can also increase destructive behaviours like lack of sleep, fidgeting and or rocking side to side and self harming.
Why Is It Important to acknowledge a child has autism and to notice the signs?
Children who have autistic meltdowns are treated as just another naughty child. They are yelled at and scolded over something they can’t help. School teachers, mainly Primary School teachers are guilty of this. Too many times, these teachers somehow aren’t able to see the signs that a child they are teaching could be on the spectrum and will just brush these kids off as just another ‘naughty child.’
How to deal with Autistic Meltdowns?
Rather than shouting and using force to make someone see sense, that will only tend to make things worse, as you will make them even more upset and angry. The best thing is to tell them to keep calm, try and get them to do any form of breathing exercises or methods to try and make them keep calm, the next best thing is to give them some space.
Crowding around and constantly asking someone an endless barrage and bombardment of questions can make them very overwhelmed and they are most likely to shun you away from them and tell you to leave them alone and let them be by themselves. Only try to talk to them when they themselves are ready and have calmed down. Try to also distract and draw their attention onto something that would take their mind off of whatever is making them upset. Try your best to comfort them and make them feel more comfortable, attempt to make them laugh and tell them that’s okay and everything will be alright.
If someone themselves is dealing with a meltdown by themselves. The best thing to do in scenarios like this, is to repeat the steps given on how to deal with somebody who is having a meltdown. The key thing to do in these situations is to not only keep calm, but to not get angry and take your anger out on either yourself or the things around you. It is better for you to look out for yourself rather than suffer and take your anger in harmful ways.
