Meltdowns

March 11, 2004

Hello all!!

I wanted to add my 2 cents about the meltdowns many of you are talking about.

My son started his meltdowns when he was 3. When I would tell people (friends,

family) about it they would shrug it off like it was a normal tantrum. A normal

tantrum it was not. They were so much more intense, and so uncontrollable. I

remember sitting with my son in the isle of a grocery store holding him because

he was having one and that was all I could think of doing so he wouldn't hurt

himself! It was very frustrating not having anyone to understand how severe

they were.

We tried preschool at the age of 3, but we had to take him out. He was

non-verbal and the school had no idea what to do with him - and he didn't know

what to do with himself. That was crushing for me as I though if he can't even

go to preschool - will he ever be able to go to school? His neurologist and his

SLP were both telling me to put him on Prozac - can you imagine a 3 1/2 year old

on Prozac? I went numb. I think this was the lowest of the low for me. This

is when I found fish oils and it made all the difference in the world with

.

What I am trying to say to all of you who are going through this now is I

understand how scared you are, and how desperate you are. These meltdowns are

so hard to get through - but you will get through them. After would

finally calm down, I would hold him and kiss him and tell him how much I loved

him over and over again. I think that was important to both of us.

I do believe these children mature at a later rate than the other children. So

these meltdowns are a combination of the " terrible two's " , AND the frustrations

of not being able to communicate their wants, needs, etc.... CAn you imagine

how hard that must be to handle? I think I would have a meltdown too!! Just

let them know you are there and love them. This does NOT mean give in to

them....just explain to them that sometimes you don't get your way or all your

wants. Eventually the meltdowns will become fewer and fewer. My son is now 6

1/2 and a gem.

Just some inspiration.

Carnell

North Carolina

November 26, 2004

We had one very wise doctor tell us to pick our battles and this is very true

with my daughter. You are right sometimes it is better to let something slide

that have hours of a meltdown.

There is also a big difference between meltdown and temper tantrum. When it's a

meltdown there is no reasoning. It just has to run it's course.

OT: Meltdowns

My 3 yr old is not autistic, yet does definitely have signs of mercury

poisoning to some extent. Which I am looking to address. But when he

gets overtired or perhaps something bothering him, his meltdowns just

don't seen normal. Others' will say it's a stage and he's just

tantruming, but I'm wondering if others have advice as to how to handle

them. He simplely can't regroup. Like a broken record in his head, he

can't let something go. We're trying a little GSE so that could be the

case for tonight, but he got upset because he couldn't put the spaghetti

on his own plate and pitched a fit. That went on, and on, and on.

Finally after almost 2 hours, we gave him what he wanted and he was

fine. Fine, but obviously exhausted after crying for 2 hours! He ate

peacefully, and went straight to bed. Although I did try to hold out

thinking it was some sort of battle of wills, I know in my heart it

wasn't that.

I believe it is his neurotransmitters that are like inflamed and he

can't shut off his emotions, but was wondering if others have a way for

dealing with this obsessive type of behavior? In some ways I did

exactly what they say not to do, (don't give in to your child's demands

or else you teach them the trick is to cry for 2 hours and you get your

way), yet I didn't have the stamina to hold out for how ever many hours

it would take for him to finally passout. If that is he every would!

Thanks,

Kari

November 26, 2004

Yes it does have to run its course. We had a huge one this morning totally

beyond our control. was in the shower and the power went out. Well

many of you may know what happened. 2 hours of on and off again meltdown.

In these situations he cannot get it together. He was very aggressive.

Even if you walk away he seeks you out. Very hard to get thru. I wanted to

go and strangle the Electric Company. Eileen

>From: " Blackmon " <blackmon@...>

>Reply-

>< >

>Subject: Re: meltdowns

>Date: Fri, 26 Nov 2004 09:08:46 -0600

>

>We had one very wise doctor tell us to pick our battles and this is very

>true with my daughter. You are right sometimes it is better to let

>something slide that have hours of a meltdown.

>There is also a big difference between meltdown and temper tantrum. When

>it's a meltdown there is no reasoning. It just has to run it's course.

>

> OT: Meltdowns

>

> My 3 yr old is not autistic, yet does definitely have signs of mercury

> poisoning to some extent. Which I am looking to address. But when he

> gets overtired or perhaps something bothering him, his meltdowns just

> don't seen normal. Others' will say it's a stage and he's just

> tantruming, but I'm wondering if others have advice as to how to handle

> them. He simplely can't regroup. Like a broken record in his head, he

> can't let something go. We're trying a little GSE so that could be the

> case for tonight, but he got upset because he couldn't put the spaghetti

> on his own plate and pitched a fit. That went on, and on, and on.

> Finally after almost 2 hours, we gave him what he wanted and he was

> fine. Fine, but obviously exhausted after crying for 2 hours! He ate

> peacefully, and went straight to bed. Although I did try to hold out

> thinking it was some sort of battle of wills, I know in my heart it

> wasn't that.

> I believe it is his neurotransmitters that are like inflamed and he

> can't shut off his emotions, but was wondering if others have a way for

> dealing with this obsessive type of behavior? In some ways I did

> exactly what they say not to do, (don't give in to your child's demands

> or else you teach them the trick is to cry for 2 hours and you get your

> way), yet I didn't have the stamina to hold out for how ever many hours

> it would take for him to finally passout. If that is he every would!

> Thanks,

> Kari

>

November 26, 2004

Oh I have been ready to seek out power company people. When Hurricane Opal hit

we were without power for five days. It was awful. My daughter was younger then,

but it was still so hard.

This year with we had Hurricane Ivan, we were determined to have a generator. It

did make things much easier for the four days we didn't have power, but it was

still not a great time.

I didn't really realize how much it bothered her until I heard her at her

computer one day. She will sit and spell words then make sentences. I heard her

say " weather, " followed by, " the weather is a storm, power goes out. "

Unexpected change is so hard on our kids.