Autism Discussion Page Emotions are scary! The emotional world on the spectrum can be very scary! Emotions are often all or nothing, either turned off, or coming on like a freight train! When emotions hit, they often hit hard, going from 0-100 very fast, with little warning. Since they often cannot identify and associated with these emotions, people report that they often feel detached from their emotions. They come on without warning, are difficult to label or connected to a cause, and the person often feels unable to control them. Like sensory overload, these emotions can overwhelm the person and leave them feeling totally helpless and in panic! You cannot control that which you cannot define, label, and understand. The panic sets off the fight, flight, or freeze response, igniting outward acting out, or withdrawal and shutdown. Over time, any emotion sets off a panic reaction in fear of being overwhelmed and out of control. Then the least little snag can set off a panic reaction. This is why it is important to help the child to feel safe and accepted at times of heated emotion. They need to feel that those close to them understand the turmoil. We need to communicate compassion and acceptance at a time when the child is flooded in emotion. Offer assistance but do not pressure acceptance. Communicate that you are there to keep everyone safe, but provide little other interaction unless invited by the child. Some children will let you sooth them, if the procedure is rehearsed ahead of time. But, often they want to be left alone, because any outside support is too overwhelming. During these times we need to tone the world down, lessen all stimulation, and remove all demands. Don’t fuel the fire! Take away the oxygen, and the fire will subside. What the child needs to realize is that the emotion will go away! It will not last long. That he is safe with you, and will ride the tide until it is gone. If the child panics under emotion because they fear the reactions of others, then the least little emotion will set off panic.
Posted on: Sat, 22 Jun 2013 06:38:22 +0000
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