Causes Of Anger In High
Although each case of autism is different,there are several common causes of anger in high-functioning autistic children:;
Being overwhelmed by multiple tasks
Anyone with autism, including high-functioning autistic children, can get easily overwhelmed and frustrated when asked to perform several tasks at the same time. This is particularly the case when a new task is combined with the routine one and when tasks need prioritizing.;
Sensory overload
Children with autism have fragile sensory systems that can easily get overloaded. Responding with anger outbursts and aggressive behaviors is sometimes simply an automatic reaction to being physically uncomfortable in situations that cause sensory overload.
Feeling helpless
All the unwritten rules and unpredictabilities of daily life may be hard to navigate for autistic children, regardless of their level of functioning. They dont always fully understand what is going on around them and act out aggressively out of frustration.
Changes in routine
Children on the autism spectrum can become distressed when their routines are changed. Unexpected events like having to take a different route to school or eat a different type of breakfast cereal can increase the childs anxiety levels. The feelings of confusion and helplessness may cause a meltdown.
Other peoples behavior
Intolerance of imperfections in others
Stress and anxiety
Autism Meltdown Strategies For Children
Youve heard the saying: When youve met a child with autism, youve met one child with autism.
Because every autistic child presents differently, with varied skills, levels of relatedness, communication, and sensory processing profiles, it is impossible to have a one-solution-fits-all approach to managing meltdowns.
The following are some tips and strategies that have helped other parents, but you will have to consider these in terms of your individual childs needs.
Wed all like to avoid meltdowns completely, but thats not possible. Instead, some parents find it helpful to put strategies in place to minimize the stress and anxiety of daily life that may contribute to a meltdown.;This is typically referred to as a sensory diet and can be beneficial in preventing and managing autism meltdowns.
Some common ones that support regulation across the day:
- Visual schedules
- Check off lists
- Activity or task schedules
- Routine sensory diet activities, for example, using a weighted blanket during sleep, engaging in deep pressure activities at certain times in the daily routine, etc.
Some parents find it helpful to schedule quiet time for their child, in order to allow for the downtime proactively before the activity of the day gets to be too much. Building in a surprise or question mark to visual schedules helps to shape behavioral responses to unexpected changes in routines that are often stressful.
Managing Autism And Anxiety With Medication
Since anxiety is a distinct disorder, it can be treated separately from other domains of ASD. Anti-depressants, anti-anxiety medications, and beta-blockers are used to treat anxiety in the general population. Few studies have been done discerning whether these drugs are equally effective in adults with ASD. A small study5 from the Cochrane Collaboration found that the drug Luvox may help treat obsessive-compulsive behaviors in adults with autism, and fluoxetine may likewise help with anxiety. The conclusion was that these drugs should be used on a case-by-case basis to treat OCD and anxiety in adults with ASD.
Other studies6 on fluoxetine in adults and children with ASD demonstrated improvement in repetitive behaviors, but a controlled trial showed that citalopram worked no differently than a placebo in reducing repetitive behaviors. Also, some patients had negative behavioral effects, such as hyperactivity, impulsivity, and insomnia. Medical professionals should keep in mind that patients with ASD may be sensitive to low doses of drugs. These adults present significant variations in treatment responses and adverse reactions to medications.
Also Check: What To Feed Autistic Child
How To Begin A Diagnosis Process
Adults who suspect they or a loved one might be autistic can do a self-assessment test for adults. A person can find these tests online. While they cannot give a diagnosis, the tests are a good starting point.
A person seeking a diagnosis can take the results of such a test to a primary care doctor who will try to determine whether ASD may be present by:
- enquiring about the symptoms, both current and during childhood
- observing and interacting with the person
- speaking to a loved one
- checking for other physical or mental health conditions that may be causing symptoms
If no underlying physical condition can explain the symptoms, the doctor may refer the person to a psychiatrist or a psychologist to make an ASD diagnosis.
If symptoms are not present in childhood but begin in adolescence or adulthood, this may indicate a cognitive or mental health condition other than ASD.
It may be difficult to find a specialist who can diagnose ASD in adults. Individuals who would like a diagnosis for themselves or a loved one may need to do research to find a provider with experience diagnosing autistic adults.
Another option is to speak to a developmental pediatrician or child psychiatrist who is willing to see adult clients.
Identifying Emotions As A Step Towards Managing Moods
Autistic children and teenagers can find it hard to identify emotions. They might have difficulty telling different emotions apart for example, your child might feel all negative or unpleasant emotions as anger.
If autistic children and teenagers can learn to be more aware of their emotions, this can help them change and manage their moods. So the first step in handling emotions is identifying and naming emotions.
To help your child identify different emotions, you could create a social story about a particular emotion.
Heres an example of a social story about happiness:
- When something good happens to me, I feel happy.
- Some things that make me happy are playing computer games and swimming.
- When I feel happy, I smile and laugh.
Pointing out your childs emotions can also help your child recognise them. You could say, Youre laughing and smiling you must be happy, or I can see that youre frustrated. It must be frustrating to not be able to play that bit right on the guitar. Try starting with emotions like happiness, fear and anger. Then move on to more complicated emotions, like jealousy, sympathy or embarrassment. You could also try pointing out emotions in family members or characters in movies.
Drawing a picture of the body to show where people feel emotions can help some autistic teenagers. Another idea is for you and your child to look at pictures of faces that show different emotions.
Heres how it might work with anger on a scale of 1-5:
Read Also: What Is The Meaning Of Autism In Hindi
Develop An Anger Management Record
The person may keep a diary or chart of situations that trigger anger. List the situation, the level of anger on a scale of one to ten and the coping strategies that help to overcome or reduce feelings of anger. A simple and effective technique for reducing levels of anger is the Stop Think technique.
A person notices the thoughts running through their mind. 1 Stop! and think before reacting to the situation 2 Challenge the inaccurate or unhelpful thoughts 3 Create a new thought.
A plan can also be developed to help a person avoid becoming angry when they plan to enter into a situation that has a history of triggering anger. An example of a personal plan is using the Stop – Think technique when approaching a shopping center situation that is known to trigger anger.
To improve my ability to cope with anger when I am waiting in long queues.
Aspie Adults & Anger Problems
Aspie adultsâ anger issues often carry over from their childhood or teenage years. It is an integral part of the syndrome and may be exacerbated by circumstances and frustration. Here are some of the ways that controlling anger may become apparent in Aspergerâs adults:
- A change to plans or routines can cause anger in an Aspie adult as they try and retain their stability and security.
- Sensory overload can cause an outburst of anger and demands.
- Insensitive comments can be hurtful and arouse anger.
- Aspie adults have rigid ideas of right and wrong and may become angry if these are not adhered to.
Recommended Reading: Why Babies Born With Autism
Practice Point: Teach Patients About Levels Of Emotion
Individuals with ASDs commonly have a low frustration tolerance and significant irritability. They may report that they alternate from calm to extreme anger very quickly. There have been several studies that suggest individuals with ASDs have difficulty understanding and interpreting their own emotions. If they are not able to recognize less intense emotions in themselves, they will not be able to develop skills to help themselves calm down prior to losing control.
It may be helpful to start with only one side of the thermometer . Giving the patient only one-half of an emotional spectrum on which to focus at a time may keep him or her from feeling overwhelmed. After he or she has mastered understanding and naming the emotions on one side of the thermometer then the other end can be addressed.
Once the emotions have been decided upon and placed appropriately on the thermometer, the next step is to build knowledge on what those emotion labels mean . It is important to have the person define the emotions. If he or she is having trouble defining them, the individual can look them up in a dictionary, if necessary. The thermometer visual can then be utilized to help the individual identify his or her own emotional state.
Recognizing The Motivation Or Purpose Of The Tantrum Behavior
Here are a few examples of motivation children might have:
- to get attention
- delayed access to what he wants/needs
Once you identify WHY your child is tantruming, you can respond more appropriately.
Recognize your childs needs in the moment, without giving into them.
For example: Bobby wanted to choose the TV show but his sister put on Sesame Street before he got to the remote to turn on Dora. Bobby is now on the floor kicking, yelling, and crying . Bobby wanted to choose Dora as the TV show but didnt get his way . The adult could calmly, concisely respond with I see that you are because you didnt get to choose your TV show. When youre calm, well talk about it .
When Bobby calms down, he can then be engaged in conversation about how to solve the TV show problem but he does not get his Dora TV show immediately.
Also Check: Is Autism A Neurodevelopmental Disorder
The Pingree Center Of Autism Can Help
The Pingree Center provides state-of-the-art support for children and adolescents with autism. Providing children with comprehensive treatment, education, and the resources they need to thrive, the Pingree center of autism helps children with autism become the best versions of themselves. Although we are recognized as the premier autism center in Utah, our doors are open to children nationwide. This has allowed us to build a strong community.
Our Best Strategies For Dealing With Autism And Anger
Have you ever wondered about autism spectrum disorder and its relationship to anger? What can cause anger outbursts in children with autism? How can we help children with autism deescalate from anger? We will answer these questions and more, but first, lets consider autism symptoms.;
The symptoms related to autism spectrum disorder vary greatly among individuals. In addition, these symptoms fall along a spectrum, with some children demonstrating more severe symptoms compared to others. Generally speaking, individuals with autism will experiences some degree of the following symptoms:;
- Language difficulties-including language delays and repetition of specific words or phrases
- Learning difficulties;
- Trouble with attention and problem-solving;
- Emotional difficulties, including depression, anger, and anxiety;
Anger is often an emotion that is associated with autism spectrum disorder. Most children with autism do not express their anger in the same way as typically-developing peers. This anger can be directed towards others, or towards themselves . Anger may manifest into aggression and could include hitting, kicking, biting, or throwing objects.;
There are several reasons children with autism may experience intense anger or aggression, including:;
Don’t Miss: Can Autism Be Diagnosed At Any Age
Dating On The Autism Spectrum: Handling Conflict
August 28, 2020 by Dr. Tasha Oswald
Welcome back to my blog series on dating on the autism spectrum. Last week we talked about common challenges many people with autism have while dating. Today, I would like to talk about the challenges many adults with autism have when theyre in a relationship and experience conflict with their partner.
In my experience as an autism therapist, I have noticed that many of my clients with autism struggle to handle conflict in their relationships. This can be caused by a trauma history and a general lack of understanding regarding others emotions.;
Autism And Anxiety In Adults: Next Steps
1Rosenn, Daniel. Is It Aspergers or ADHD?. Aspergers/ Autism Network. .
2Sarris, Marina. Anxietys Toll on People with Autism. Interactive Autism Network .
3Sarris, Marina. Anxietys Toll on People with Autism. Interactive Autism Network .
4Burchi, Elisabetta, Hollander, Eric. Anxiety in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Anxiety and Depression Association of America. ;
5Sarris, Marina. What Anxiety Treatments Work for People With Autism. Interactive Autism Network ;
6Burchi, Elisabetta, Hollander, Eric. Anxiety in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Anxiety and Depression Association of America. ;
7Anxiety in Autistic Adults. National Autistic Society.
Recommended Reading: Can A Speech Pathologist Diagnose Autism
Difficulty With Verbal Communication
A child with HFA will typically have no problems understanding language. Learning individual words, grammar rules, and vocabulary may not be an issue for them.
The use of language to communicate, however, can be problematic. Someone with HFA may have difficulty understanding sarcasm, metaphors, or idioms. This is known as “pragmatic” language.
In addition, some people with HFA may struggle to speak when under stress or overwhelmed.
Dealing With Someone Elses Tantrum
When someone you care about has tantrums or meltdowns, you might wonder how to best offer support or de-escalate the situation.
First, try to keep calm. This might be difficult if they seem to want to provoke you. If they say unkind things, you might begin to feel hurt and angry yourself.
Maybe they show their rage with the silent treatment; adult tantrums dont always involve kicking and screaming.
Though being ignored might infuriate you, resist the temptation to blow up at them. Instead, take a few deep breaths, even a short break, before you try to respond.
Don’t Miss: What Is The Best Pet For An Autistic Child
Rumination And Mental Health Issues
Autism spectrum disorders often present with comorbidities, particularly mental health issues. Many mental health conditions can cause rumination, but rumination may also intensify the symptoms of some pre-existing conditions. In an article from Medical News Today, these examples of mental health issues and rumination were given.
Depression:;A person with depression may ruminate on very negative or self-defeating thoughts. For example, they may obsess over a belief that they are unworthy, not good enough, or doomed to fail.
Anxiety: People with anxiety may ruminate on specific fears, such as the idea that something bad will happen to their family. Or they might ruminate more generally, continually scanning their mind for things that might go wrong.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder : People with OCD may feel overwhelmed by intrusive thoughts about things that could go wrong. To relieve these thoughts, they may engage in rituals, such as checking door locks, cleaning, or counting.
Phobias:;People with phobias may ruminate on their fears, especially when they encounter the source of their phobia. For example, a person with a spider phobia may be unable to think about anything but their fear when in the same room as a spider.
Aba Techniques For Dealing With Anger
ABA therapy is a highly adaptable and flexible intervention that can be used in a variety of settings and tailored for the specific needs of your high-functioning autistic child. A therapist will start by spending some time with your child to analyze the behavioral patterns and determine his/her specific strengths and challenges. This functional behavior assessment will represent the basis for the work your child will do in therapy.;
The ABA therapist will use a range of techniques to help your child with anger management. ABA therapy offers two effective ways of handling problem behaviors: proactive interventions and consequence-based reactive interventions. When used in combination, these two tactics will give you and your child all the necessary tools for preventing and managing anger issues.;
Proactive intervention
Anger triggers are prevalent in an autistic childs surroundings. Thats why its extremely important to use proactive strategies that will help prevent your child from becoming overwhelmed and frustrated. Strategies to minimize anger and aggression triggers include creating an environment that is calm, predictable, and as rewarding as possible for your autistic child.
Positive feedback
Neutral redirection
Positive reinforcement;
Alternative behaviors
Modeling techniques
Scott Rustulka
Maureen O’Brien
Olivia Steele
Arye Hartal
Joanna Young
Elissa Watson
Matthew Grennell
Sharifah Christie
Kimberly Culbreth
Emma Laramie
Sophia Liu
Laura Lewis
Bisirat Haile
Don’t Miss: Which Month Is Autism Awareness
Get Help In Texas At Camp Worth For Your Childs Anger Rumination And Asd
If your child has anger rumination and ASD, you can get support for them and you. With help, you dont need to feel alone in educating and caring for your child. Camp Worth in Texas has a;qualified autism treatment staff;to help with the emotional and physical issues of autism. Call us at to find out about our;autism treatment programs.;We have options for children 11 through 17 with a formal diagnosis of autism and their parents. Youre not alone in raising your child. We can support you and your teen.
Aggression As A Method Of Communication
Problems with verbal and nonverbal communication are some of the main indicators of autism. When a child is unable to effectively express what they want, it can lead to frustration, anger, and eventually aggression.
Aggressive outbursts can signal that an autistic child does not want to do something, or they are unhappy with changes in their schedule, environment, or routine. They may have a tantrum and destroy the room in response to an unexpected change in their daily regime.
Aggressive behaviors can be directed toward a peer who disrupts an autistic child. They may be directed at a caregiver for trying to move a child from one activity to another.
Anger related to autism is generally impulsive. Aggressive behaviors are not thought out ahead of time. Its the child reacting in the moment.
Aggression can be used as a tool for an autistic child or adolescent to get what they want. For instance, aggressive outbursts can lead to the child getting to engage in the repetitive behaviors in which they are seeking comfort. In some cases, these repetitive behaviors can be potentially harmful in and of themselves, such as head banging against a wall.
Recommended Reading: How To Give Autistic Child Medicine