How to handle an autistic or mental illness meltdown

 I am autistic, I have Asperger's syndrome, a high functioning form of autism. You may not realize that I have autism by seeing me in public. Autism is a mental disorder that affects abilities to socialize and react properly in social situations. There are similarties with mental illnesses and people who live with these disorders could be subject to stress induced meltdowns, even in public.

If you read my previous article to this one, you may have a new understanding of how a meltdown or sensory overload could occur. But what do you do when someone is having one of these right next to you?

For those of you with law enforcement training, you may not need the assistance of my article, so this is geared for the layman, the average citizen.

If you haven't read my article on sensory overload, you should. That article works hand in hand with this one.

What kind of situations could you find yourself facing a meltdown in? If you work for a social services department or interview office or any job that you work with the public, you could face a person with a meltdown condition. You will not always be able to retreat, however this may be the best way to handle the situation. By retreating you remove yourself from any danger and can call for police assistance. In the event you cannot retreat, there are steps you can take to defuse the situation and end it safely. The goal is to de-escalate the situation enough that you can part ways with the person in question.

Signs that you may face a meltdown include anger, angry comments, irrational behavior, or clear tension (such as facial expression). They may start shaking visably and twitching fingers, rapid blinking and gritting of teeth. Consider the situation. If there is any way that it could be stressful for the person in question, you could deal with a meltdown.

The first thing to do is to keep your own cool. If you escalate, they will escalate faster. You really have little way to know if you are dealing with someone who has autism or a mental illness unless you are a psychiatrist or well experienced with people who have them. So, the best bet is always to keep your calm.

Don't raise your voice and be observant. You want to observe the persons hands so you can see if they have a weapon or reach for one. Talking calmly may cause the person to slow down automatically to hear you.

Do not rush or press the person. That only creates more stress and that is what you want to avoid for the situation. Remember if you escalate they can match you decibal for decibal and word for word. If they explode, there could be damage to property, themselves, others or you.

Offer an escape route if applicable. If you really don't need to be taking up this persons time, and you can't retreat, you could offer to talk to them another time or offer them some time to calm down. If the offer to calm down isn't effective, offer that you feel stressed or threatened by their demeanor and you would personally appreciate them calming themselves.

Offer an alternative situation if applicable. In a manner of trying to appease them a little you might be able to reschedule with them, or bring up an alternative to the situation they are in. Maybe there is an easier way for them to understand or deal with what is happening. Your job position may not require that you show leniency, but it could save and solve a potentially destructive situation.

Be informative. If your position doesn't allow you that kind of leniency, offer them information for who they can talk to in order to allow you to get out of the situation. Remember, the idea is for you to leave the situation safely. It is not up to you to correct that persons life problems.

If you find yourself in an inconsolable situation, you should find a way to call for asisstance.

If you come across someone who is in a position of self harm, you should call for assistance. You an still use the soft voice tactic and a friendly calming demeanor to help the person calm down.

Do not approach a person with a weapon. Find a way to call for police.

If you have a friend or family member who may have a meltdown you may be able to get more involved. Help your family member escape the meltdown conditions and get them to a calm and friendly environment. Do not leave them totally alone. Wait nearby to their calm area until they are under their own control again.

In this article I want to say that I am available to answer any questions out there about autism. If I can clarify anything, please don't hesitate to let me know.