Explosive Behavior
For a variety of reasons, some individuals with autism display explosive, and potentially harmful behavior. Some 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 our failure to respond to their needs just escalates the situation. And, often, our efforts to stop the explosion only adds 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 discussion reviews some prevention strategies explored in a previous podast.
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. Without meaning to, most of us tend to just ignore a person who does not talk to us about their needs, feelings, and choices. But most of our friends have learned that we suddenly pay attention 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 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 take 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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