Re: How to side step melt downs and anger with Aspergers Children

[Guest guest]

Hi Bri. I am sorry to hear about what's going on with your daughter. One of my

son's started the same thing at age 3. What seemed to work, I guess, for us was

to put him in his room and we would shut the door. I would be outside the door

holding the door closed and would talk very calmly through the door, take away

anything he threw and made sure there was nothing dangerous for him in the room.

What I found was that it kept everyone safe including myself and his twin. My

response to him was always " when it's safe for me to open the door again I

will " . Over time, sometime extensive periods he would wear himself down. At

that point I would go in, sit on the floor and hold him. This was what we found

most helpful at that age. This did not change the acting out but did keep

everyone safe. As he got older we did have to restrain him to prevent injury to

anyone. This was not easy. We worked with the physician and psychologist. He

had several medical problems and much of his life was out of his control being

dragged to Dr. appts and surgery. It was felt that at home was where he felt

the safest to let go. We did eventually include medication to help (he was

given a dx of Intermittent Explosive Disorder but this was eventually removed).

He is no longer on medication and I'm happy to say it has been about 4 years

with out medication. He does still have tantrums but they are different, more

of a teenage verbal tantrum. That I can handle~ " just go to your room until you

are ready to TALK with me " Hang in there!

---- jonandbriannefaulring <jonandbriannefaulring@...> wrote:

> I am new to the site and am desperately looking for solutions on how to side

step the melt downs and the sudden anger that my child seems to exhibit

frequently.

>

> She is very sweet one on one, but it seems as though if she gets over

stimulated then she becomes violent and hyperactive. She has not been

officially diagnosed with Aspergers, just suspected to have it, according to

tests. She seems to lack the ability to express her emotions in an appropriate

way.

>

> When she gets upset, she starts swinging her fists at anything and everything

and often times her father and I, along with her siblings, end up having bruises

from her.

>

> She is only 4 years old, but ever since birth she has been extremely

independent, particular and defiant.

>

> I'm just looking for any kind of support possible. I'm at my whit's end and

feel like I am the worst mom ever at the end of every day because my child is

unable to function around other kids. What can I do?

>

> Bri

>