Preventing Explosions
“I am looking for ways to help students who have very limited language skills manage their explosive anger,” commented an experienced therapist. “Many of these youngsters resort to hitting, biting, and screaming to communicate their displeasure In some cases, it is very difficult to determine the source of their anger or frustration, so their response can be very intense. Their limitations in expressive language only add fuel to the fire.”
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Helping a person manage explosive, angry outbursts requires a two-prong approach that addresses (1) prevention strategies for decreasing explosions, and (2) strategies for reacting when an explosion occurs. Today’s podcast addresses prevention. The upcoming podcast entitled “I am MAD!” addresses the issue of appropriate reactions.
Preventing explosive anger is very difficult in any situation, but the challenge is magnified with individuals who have limited language skills and who are functioning on the spectrum of autism. Every person will respond to different strategies. The most effective will involve the three elements discussed below.
REMOVE THE CATALYST. It is often difficult to determine what causes an angry outburst, and it is not always possible to control that catalyst. But, when possible, caregivers need to consider removing the trigger that causes the explosive behavior. The catalyst can range from boredom to overstimulation. Anger can result from unexpected changes in schedule, close social contact, or sensory surprises or irritants e.g. certain smells or sounds or lights. I have a student who gets very agitated if a classroom door is left open and another who has no patience for his mother talking to teachers or therapists. The source of frustration can be hunger, stubbornness, sleepiness, a sore throat, heat or cold, or an urge to go to the bathroom. Caregivers must be skilled detectives to determine the source of a non-verbal person’s frustration and anger.
TAKE TIME BEFORE THE EXPLOSION. In some cases, non-verbal individuals find it difficult to get the attention of caregivers. Because they are not verbally nagging us, we all tend to just ignore a person who does not express needs and choices verbally. But most of our friends have learned that we all turn our attention to them when they turn up their request a notch. We suddenly drop everything and pay attention to them when they scream, cry, bite, hit, or throw an object. So, it is important that we purposefully turn our attention to these folks frequently when they are calm, giving them time and opportunity to connect and communicate with us. This also gives us regular opportunities to get a feel for what our friends are thinking as well as chances for us to learn their non-verbal cues and other communication methods.
GIVE CHOICES. Individuals who are non-verbal sometimes have every decision made for them because it is easier for us to just tell them what to eat or wear or read or watch. Some angry outbursts can be avoided when folks are given a choice about some aspects of their daily lives and when they can clearly communicate “yes” and “no,” either verbally, with sign language, with symbol cards, or with body language. We can also systematically teach our friend that they do not have choices about EVERY aspect of their lives, and that they will simply need to accept the fact that “no” means “no.” For some individuals, social stories and similar techniques are valuable tools in teaching some of these important aspects of anger management. But many non-verbal individuals with autism do not readily transfer abstract concepts nor do they generalize the lessons of social stories and apply them to their own situation. So we just need to patiently taking time to find ways to help individuals tame their anger. We welcome any ideas and strategies related to anger management. Feel free to click on the “comment” button on our website or to send us an e-mail talk@FAQautism.com
Note to FAQautism.com listeners and readers: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. You can click on a button to send me an email with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solutions. Check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. www.FAQautism.com
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