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Urgent handhold please. Lost my temper with ASD teen and meltdown.

84 replies

CalmingVibes · 03/05/2024 21:43

DS14 is ASD and is just impossible at the moment. I know some of it is normal teenage stuff but it is just an awful living situation for all of us. I think there’s some depression going on and I’m trying to get him help for this but he rejects it.

His mood is all over the place. One minute he’s ok , the next he’s screaming blue murder. I don’t get a chance to reason with him because he screams over the top of me or shuts me down. If I leave him to it then go back to him , he shuts down and refuses to talk about things or let me explain so he’s left with lots of negative thoughts and feelings . He’s always been like this .

He’s a good kid generally but his overall presentation towards us is just so negative and I’m honestly at the end of my rope with it. Everything is always an issue.

Earlier, the cat waited at the door meowing to be let out. I was upstairs cleaning and all three DC were downstairs. The two younger boys were eating. DS1 was just watching his iPad. I shouted down to ask DS1 to let the cat out. The door is right next to him.

He text me saying “it’s not my turn” . I told him again a bit more crossly, just let the cat out . It is your turn (he always pulls this one). Again, he ignored me. I had my hands full and told him again, that if I had to come down to let the cat out myself, he’s lost his iPad (because he won’t do anything when he’s on it). By this point the cat was getting frustrated but DS1 still sat there so younger DS got down from the table and let the cat out.

I had to come down and I told DS1 no more iPad because he seems to think he’s devoid from helping at all when he’s on it. Cue the “you all hate me , you’re against me , you’re so nasty”.

I tried to explain that I expect him to help and that I do not like the way he often refuses to help in the hope his younger siblings will get frustrated and do it for him. He would not listen, shot me down and was screaming blue murder at me at how much I hate him and how nasty I am . It’s the same narrative every miserable day when things don’t go his way . When things were quieter, I offered him a hug. He screamed at me saying no I’m nasty and blame him for everything. All of this over letting the bloody cat out. I obviously know there’s more to it, but it’s every time he’s asked to do something he doesn’t want to. He becomes rude, sarcastic and mean.

DH brought him a drink in and asked if he wanted a glass. DS1 now in a stinking mood was rude to him too. DH got cross . I got more cross.

Then it escalated. I am fed up of being spoken to like shit from him. I lost my temper completely and DS is screaming at me. It was chaotic. He then put his foot through the door and I just saw red. I went ballistic and threatened to call the police. I asked him to leave the room so I could fix the door, more refusals and more screaming.

He screamed about how nasty I am, how I’ve made him the way he is. Always the same narrative for as long as he’s been alive. I have been broken by him many times. I screamed back that he was also nasty and destructive (not my finest moment).

I love him more than anything but he is such a difficult person to be around. Negative,
argumentative, sees the bad in everything. It is draining. This is the second huge meltdown he’s had in the last few days. I know something must be going on but he won’t let me near to help. He says what he wants to me and then shuts anything I try to say down by screaming over the top of me.

He now thinks he’s done nothing at all wrong and it’s all me. He’s upset about me threatening to call the police as he “never did anything”. He doesn’t understand why I’m annoyed about the broken door , because it’s his door. He thinks I hate him but won’t let me help change that narrative. Often, his perspective of a situation is so far in to the negative, it can’t be challenged.

I now feel awful and don’t know how to move forward. Has anyone else been in this situation?

OP posts:
Bubbleswithsqueak · 03/05/2024 21:47

Ross Greene's 'The Explosive Child' is really really helpful. It's a collaborative problem solving approach, which sounds a bit waffly and round the houses, but I promise that it's really effective.

Dareisayiseethesunshine · 03/05/2024 21:51

ASD teen ds(15) here.. Lists op. My ds thrives on a list. But honestly in his mind it wasn't his turn to let the cat out. Seriously he won't change that mindset of logic.. It wasn't his turn so he didn't have to do it.... We had the same issue with emptying the dishwasher.. It's tough and I empathise...

CalmingVibes · 03/05/2024 21:51

@Bubbleswithsqueak I’m willing to try anything. I’ll have a look.

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

DoreenonTill8 · 03/05/2024 21:51

Op you are human too and will have a breaking point.

User364837 · 03/05/2024 21:54

Sympathies OP
reading back what happened would you have done anything differently in hindsight?
I think it sounds like it escalated quite quickly to the iPad being taken away which triggered him to explode

CalmingVibes · 03/05/2024 22:01

I would have walked away if I were to do it differently. It’s just very hard to always walk away when you’re being repeatedly told how awful you are. At times, I feel like I’m in an abusive relationship, but it’s my child. This has been going on for years.

He has such high expectations of me which are impossible to meet and then he gets annoyed when I can’t meet them. It’s every day. For example, he needs help to brush and style his hair. If it’s not exactly how he wants it, too much gel, too little gel etc , then he gets annoyed and says I’m not trying or I don’t care and that I’m not good at it. Every day. When I suggest he does it himself, he blames me for being mean and says I know he can’t . I can’t win.

OP posts:
junebirthdaygirl · 03/05/2024 22:02

So difficult for you. Have you had any help or advice is how to cope with a child on the spectrum? Main advice seems to be calm the situation..don't add to it. Not easy l know. So after a run in leave him time to calm down quietly with no talk or interaction.

Saying all that myself or my siblings are not on the spectrum and yet we were adamant about whose turn it was to wash up/ sweep the floor..you name it we knew whose turn it was!! And this was in the 70s with very strict parents. So everything isn't due to autism but the melt downs are. I know you can't let him rule the house but when a situation arises, for your own sake as much as his concentrate on calming the situation and giving him space. Talk comes much later rather than in the middle of the drama.

Youcanpayit · 03/05/2024 22:02

I've got no pearls of wisdom, but I've got sympathy and a handhold. This is my life too and it's hard. Months of walking on eggshells and tiptoeing around to keep the peace, and then I explode and feel horrible and guilty 💐

Settlement22 · 03/05/2024 22:02

I can empathise completely. It makes me feel like i am going insane sometimes.
One thing I have figured out is that removing things as a punishment doesn't work for my child with ASD- sorry I don't know if this is the same for all children with ASD. It is so hard to stay calm, sometimes I manage, sometimes I don't. Recently I have found letting them rant and rave a standing listening and seeming to understand calms the situation quicker then I try and calmly explain why I am upset breaking it down into tiny detail. I agree with a PP regarding the 'not my turn' narrative, we have never overcome that!!
Anyway, sorry I don't have lots of advice but you are not alone.

Octavia64 · 03/05/2024 22:03

Hi OP.

It sounds like a difficult situation.

I just picked up on a couple of words that you used, about reasoning with him and wanting to explain to him.

As I'm sure you know, if he's moody and upset then there probably is something wrong. If you can, give him space and opportunities for him to talk to you, rather than you talking to him,

Would he talk, for example if you were giving him a lift and he was in the passenger seat? Or over a neutral activity?

With respect to letting the cat out, teens with ASD are known to struggle with transitions. If your teen with ASD is in the cat letting out rota then by definition he will be asked to transition at a time that suits the cat. That's likely to lead to trouble. You might be better off getting him to contribute to the household in a more predictable, routine way that he can do at the same time every day, and take him off the cat rota.

Dareisayiseethesunshine · 03/05/2024 22:04

We use the Xbox to help 'manage' ds's bad choices... Not his negative behavior.. He is supposed to get to college for 10. Usually dawdles and get there for 11. = Xbox removal. Get to college for 10 =Xbox back. He made those choices.. No Xbox removal for things he can't change. Like refusing food if it wasn't pre discussed.. Or being late in for some logical (to him) reason.

CalmingVibes · 03/05/2024 22:08

Thanks for the support. I’m just broken by it all and very cross about the broken door. It’s hard to know what is part of his ASD and what is not. I haven’t handled it well at all and now feel terrible.

OP posts:
Onehappymam · 03/05/2024 22:10

Nothing but sympathy and solidarity from me OP.

I have an ASD teen and it is fucking hard.

I have lost my shit more times than I care to remember. We’re only human. Some of our darkest moments we can now look back on and laugh about them - teen as well, despite them being horrific at the time.

When the time is right and things have calmed down, there will be hugs and chats. It’s just tough right now, but it won’t last.

Winetastingtimewasting · 03/05/2024 22:11

I would have a emergency turn rule.
explain in advance that it’s an extra,
like a bonus you get to use when you need it ..and it’s different to normal turns as you can choose who and when it’s needed.
this kind of makes it a rule that can be flexible.
in addition you may like to add that if the person requested responds to the emergency rule by doing what is asked straight away, there is an additional privilege. … make sure it’s something your son would also like.
I would ‘ demonstrate’ it by requesting an emergency rule request to another child and letting your son see the benefit of them completing the emergency rule. ( sort of modelling it)

good luck it’s very very hard xx

Onehappymam · 03/05/2024 22:12

I meant the moment being horrific, not the teen! Well, actually, maybe the teen too. And me as well if I’m being honest. Blush

purpleme12 · 03/05/2024 22:14

Settlement22 · 03/05/2024 22:02

I can empathise completely. It makes me feel like i am going insane sometimes.
One thing I have figured out is that removing things as a punishment doesn't work for my child with ASD- sorry I don't know if this is the same for all children with ASD. It is so hard to stay calm, sometimes I manage, sometimes I don't. Recently I have found letting them rant and rave a standing listening and seeming to understand calms the situation quicker then I try and calmly explain why I am upset breaking it down into tiny detail. I agree with a PP regarding the 'not my turn' narrative, we have never overcome that!!
Anyway, sorry I don't have lots of advice but you are not alone.

What do you do instead of removing, if that doesn't work?

Settlement22 · 03/05/2024 22:14

CalmingVibes · 03/05/2024 22:08

Thanks for the support. I’m just broken by it all and very cross about the broken door. It’s hard to know what is part of his ASD and what is not. I haven’t handled it well at all and now feel terrible.

Please don't beat yourself up. I've lost my temper many times, it is hard for people to understand the pressure and frustration involved if they haven't had to live with it

purpleme12 · 03/05/2024 22:15

I am not surprised that you are broken. It's totally exhausting

Oncetwicethreetimesalady · 03/05/2024 22:23

Been there. You have my sympathies. My ds is now 18 and a million times easier but there were many, many low points like this for us.
How I learnt to manage it was to give myself permission to parent in a way that worked and was not conventional. So, I removed all unnecessary demands, didn’t expect him to contribute to the household in the way NT kids of his age would be expected. I decided to recognise the huge extra effort and energy that was going into just normal life and going to a mainstream secondary (especially after he’d been in special school for most of primary).
Things like the hair styling are a good example. They’re so stressed to be going to school, that the hair or whatever being exactly right becomes incredibly important to them. It’s so tough but I chose to see it as an ASD symptom that they needed help managing.
I was extremely tolerant, yet somehow I think managed to give him essential boundaries. He has done amazingly well as he’s got older and I’m super proud of him. He got through the hardest of challenges and has great GCSE’s and looks set to do well at a level. He is having a year off before uni especially so he can catch up on some basic life skills he’s going to need!!

Gymnopedie · 04/05/2024 00:32

OP the thing that strikes me from this is that you have two younger DC who are being exposed to this. You need to protect them as well. Don't let their lives be governed by their brother's moods and shouting.

I know it's easier said than done but you may need to look at alternative living arrangements. There have been plenty of threads on here where some posters have recalled that there lives dominated by the needs of the sibling and it can cause problems later down the line. Don't let them be a sacrifice.

Loubelle70 · 04/05/2024 00:40

Octavia64 · 03/05/2024 22:03

Hi OP.

It sounds like a difficult situation.

I just picked up on a couple of words that you used, about reasoning with him and wanting to explain to him.

As I'm sure you know, if he's moody and upset then there probably is something wrong. If you can, give him space and opportunities for him to talk to you, rather than you talking to him,

Would he talk, for example if you were giving him a lift and he was in the passenger seat? Or over a neutral activity?

With respect to letting the cat out, teens with ASD are known to struggle with transitions. If your teen with ASD is in the cat letting out rota then by definition he will be asked to transition at a time that suits the cat. That's likely to lead to trouble. You might be better off getting him to contribute to the household in a more predictable, routine way that he can do at the same time every day, and take him off the cat rota.

I agree with this...the cat isnt atm on his radar. Your son is decompressing with his ipad..its not laziness. Try to find a job he can consistently do regularly. He's a teen and has ASD... double whammy...sometimes its them struggling with school and the social pressure and wanting to relax and decompress when home...paramount for children on the spectrum

TennisTantrum · 04/05/2024 02:01

If he has ASD he likely struggles with transitions. Moving suddenly from deeply engrossed in the ipad to letting out the cat is an unexpected transition so I can understand his struggle.

Have you tried keeping the demands to a minimum and making them very predictable/given plenty of warning before a transition. That sort of thing helps my DD.

It sounds like a really hard time for all of you

CalmingVibes · 04/05/2024 07:39

You’re right it likely was the transition to let the cat out and I can see that now that I am no longer in the moment.

But it is such a simple request, I can’t fathom how I’m supposed to get him to live in the real world whilst also meeting his needs. I can’t manage every tiny change in his day.

I had my hands full at the time and the other boys were eating. DS1 was sat right next to the door where the cat wanted to be out. I know in light of his ASD why he struggled to let the cat out but I worry that by (in hindsight) me dropping everything to go and do it myself to avoid him being uncomfortable by a transition, that I’m enforcing that he should never have to spontaneously do something. He’s almost an adult and the real world will not be kind to him.

OTOH, I can see why the unexpected request upset him. It’s so very difficult to navigate.

OP posts:
SparkyBlue · 04/05/2024 08:30

@CalmingVibes no advice as my DS with asd is only eight so I probably have it all to come but I can totally understand how easily these things can escalate. If DS is absorbed in something he is on another planet.

qwertyqwertyqwertyqwerty · 04/05/2024 08:39

CalmingVibes · 03/05/2024 22:01

I would have walked away if I were to do it differently. It’s just very hard to always walk away when you’re being repeatedly told how awful you are. At times, I feel like I’m in an abusive relationship, but it’s my child. This has been going on for years.

He has such high expectations of me which are impossible to meet and then he gets annoyed when I can’t meet them. It’s every day. For example, he needs help to brush and style his hair. If it’s not exactly how he wants it, too much gel, too little gel etc , then he gets annoyed and says I’m not trying or I don’t care and that I’m not good at it. Every day. When I suggest he does it himself, he blames me for being mean and says I know he can’t . I can’t win.

This sounds very difficult but I feel like you're not factoring in his ASD.

I think if you've an ASD teen, age 14 so hormonal too, you're going to get a bad reaction to interrupting them to do you a favour.

I'd try to set a routine for jobs they need to do and leave it there.

If you lived alone you'd have had to open the door for the cat anyway, which would be a lot less draining than a huge row with your child

Try to accommodate more to reduce the impact on you. Escalating to removal of the iPad sounds like you picking a fight tbh. Where has it got you?