How to Help Someone Having an Overload or Meltdown

By David Walby

Overloads and meltdowns are a part of life for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder. While they are more common for some people than others, they happen in some form or another for nearly all people with Autism at some point.

As their caring friend, family member, co-worker, classmate, or otherwise; it can be difficult to manage these situations. You want to help, but you are unsure how to.

These are the top five ways to help someone who is overloading or melting down, but first a few key details.

Before getting into how to help a person who is overloading or melting down, it is important to know what overloads/ meltdowns are and their warning signs.

What Is an Overload?

An overload is easy to understand when you break it down into its base parts. An overload (Also sometimes called a sensory overload) is when a person with Autism becomes “overloaded” with sensory input beyond what they can process.

If you have been in a situation where you feel completely overwhelmed and there is too much going on, then you have felt a situation similar to how an overload feels. 

While an overload can be caused by things like loud noises, it can also be caused by something like being unable to follow a certain routine. Not being able to follow the routine leads them to becoming stressed and that stress causes an overload and even a meltdown. 

Warning Signs of An Overload

Some of the warning signs of an overload are:

1. The person is having trouble focusing or paying attention.
2. They are acting restless or are extra fidgety.
3. They are covering their ears, closing their eyes, or otherwise attempting to block out sensory input.
4. They appear extra irritable, on edge, or stressed.
5. They tell you they are overloaded. (A lot of times a person with Autism can tell when they are in the process of overloading. Listening to them when they say this can help prevent a meltdown.)

While a person with Autism may not display all of these symptoms while overloading or may experience these symptoms without overloading, they are good markers to look out for. If you think they might be having an overload, talk to them and have open communication.

A meltdown is the stage that comes after an overload if the person with Autism was unable to calm down. A meltdown occurs when a person with Autism becomes unable to handle the stimuli of what is stressing them, and they lose control. If an overload is the buildup of pressure, a meltdown is the forceful release of that pressure.

Warning Signs of a Meltdown

The warning sign of a meltdown is an overload. Whenever possible it is best to recognize the signs of an overload and prevent a meltdown.

The symptoms of a meltdown can vary, but according to the National Autistic Society common symptoms of a meltdown are completely withdrawing or fleeing from the situation, reacting verbally by screaming and/ or crying, and sometimes even with physical violence.

Now that you understand what both an overload and a meltdown are and how to recognize them, we can move on to the:

Top 5 Ways to Help Someone Who Is Overloading or Melting Down

1. Identify the source of the overstimulation & remove the person from the situation or minimize the source for them as much as possible.
2. Have patience with them and do not judge.
3. Ask them if they are okay and if they need anything.
4. Give them some space.
5. Express care and be supportive.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, an overload/ meltdown can be a stressful situation for everyone involved, but with a little help, it can become much less so. With the right support, overloads can be lessened, and meltdowns averted and both yourself and the person with Autism will appreciate this. A little bit of support can make a large difference in the lives and experiences of the people around you.

Bibliography

[1]  Meltdowns – a guide for all audiences [Internet]. www.autism.org.uk.