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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:
TennisTantrum · 04/05/2024 20:18

Welovecrumpets · 04/05/2024 19:35

If he struggles to let a cat out then how on earth is he going to cope with adult life?

It’s disheartening to read how many posters think entire families should walk on egg shells to affirm one autistic member.

These are real people, they don’t deserve to live in misery and fear because of one person’s autism. Sorry

I never said walk on eggshells.

I do think there's an option to make the transition less sudden.

For example, can you let the cat out in the next few minutes/when you finish that game, which is frequently how the adult world works.

OP has said that she's had a productive conversation with her son since now that everyone is much calmer.

If the situation hadn't of escalated a productive conversation could have happened around why we sometimes have to do things we don't want to, and how does he plan to handle that later in life? What feels helpful in handling transitions? Nothing is being gained by two people being dysregulated.

CalmingVibes · 04/05/2024 20:34

@mactire Thank you for sharing your experience; it’s exactly why I find the balance of meeting DS1s needs and other DC needs so very difficult (although all 3 are ND so they impact each other).

I’m very aware that DS1 finds things difficult but there has to be a limit as to how much we can adjust for him without it impacting everyone else in such a negative way. There’s a difference between inconvenience and detriment. I can accept adjustments being an inconvenience, I can’t accept adjustments being a detriment to others. However, then I get told I’m not considering DS1s needs when DS1’s needs are considered all of the time. It’s exhausting and I feel like a terrible parent 99% of the time. I’m pulled in 3 different directions by various needs and I’m fighting fires every day.

OP posts:
TennisTantrum · 04/05/2024 20:35

@Welovecrumpets I'm truly sorry if I've come across as disregarding the other children in the family at all.

I did mention in my first post that it sounded like they were all going through a hard time, and I was thinking of everyone in the household.
I completely agree that no one deserves to live in fear and misery, I'm just coming from the angle that reducing the meltdowns and outbursts will hopefully make the home environment feel a lot more relaxed and calm for everyone.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

CalmingVibes · 04/05/2024 20:40

Thanks for all of the kind words from everyone. You all have really helped. I’m glad I posted.

OP posts:
Loubelle70 · 04/05/2024 20:42

Mustthinkofausername · 04/05/2024 13:29

Ask your GP or a psychiatrist if he is under CAMHS about PDA - Pathological Demand Avoidance. It's often co-morbid with ASD. I don't think they actually diagnose it as such but I could be wrong. My daughter is ASD and fits the profile of PDA so our local CAMHS signed us up for parenting classes on how to manage this behaviour. I think it was called NVR - Non Violent Resistance parenting. It was a complete game changer for us to even hear about PDA and how we approach our daughter.

I used to be very shouty and dole out consequences for bad behaviour etc but now I just don't shout anymore and traditional punishments just don't work. I did have to change my entire mindset and it's hard work but it's even harder work managing melt downs and such.

You say DS is 14 so he must be year 8 or so? We had a lot of drama with behaviour in secondary school, mainly really ramped up in year 8, which we never had in primary. Hormones, social difficulties, new friendships, school work gets harder.... it all builds up and combined with the ASD things can get quite difficult. If you suspect depression it makes it even worse...

Hi
Could you tell me what strategies you use now please with your DD (I Have a grandson who is on ASD) xxx

MmMmMmMmMmMmMmM · 04/05/2024 20:45

Hugs, it’s hard.
My ASD son is younger and when he is emotionally disregulated he’s so negative. When he is calm and happy he’s the kindest most loving child. Direct orders are like a stick of dynamite but sometime you think “ffs just do it rather than arguing about it for twice the length of time it takes to do it!”

What else does your son have going on?

purpleme12 · 04/05/2024 21:44

Mustthinkofausername · 04/05/2024 19:35

It was mainly stuff like not shouting in the heat of the moment. Remaining calm otherwise we’d escalate each other. Not hashing out the issue when things were unsettled but waiting until things were calm and then talking about it. When you’re in the throes of a crisis it’s hard to remember the basics but the classes helped and you do it in a group so you’re sharing stories with others going through similar things and you pick up hints and tips from them too. I might not be explaining very well.

We do ask for things to be done around the house and some stuff gets done. Some don’t. I pick my battles. We focus on the wins and let it go when things don’t happen. Often I’ll ask for something and if it’s ignored I’ll ask again and then do it myself. Over the years things have improved a lot. A little bit of maturity goes a long way. Some stuff gets done voluntarily now and then I make sure to say thank you and that I appreciate the effort. Positive reinforcement works for us and this seems to increase
the positive behaviours we want.

Thanks
I think it feels so good to have other people going through the same stuff

Pantaloons99 · 04/05/2024 21:48

I want you to forgive yourself. Not knowing what the hell is going on, what is ASD and what isn't, and feeling like you're dealing with 2 different people in one body is typical for many of us.
My health is really failing. My son screeches alot. He screeched right next to my ear and I just started crying today. I also get comments that feel to me like they're intentionally hurtful but then you question your sanity as to whether they even meant it.
Forgive yourself. You're human ❤️

mactire · 04/05/2024 22:15

CalmingVibes · 04/05/2024 20:34

@mactire Thank you for sharing your experience; it’s exactly why I find the balance of meeting DS1s needs and other DC needs so very difficult (although all 3 are ND so they impact each other).

I’m very aware that DS1 finds things difficult but there has to be a limit as to how much we can adjust for him without it impacting everyone else in such a negative way. There’s a difference between inconvenience and detriment. I can accept adjustments being an inconvenience, I can’t accept adjustments being a detriment to others. However, then I get told I’m not considering DS1s needs when DS1’s needs are considered all of the time. It’s exhausting and I feel like a terrible parent 99% of the time. I’m pulled in 3 different directions by various needs and I’m fighting fires every day.

You’re doing the best you can, hang on to that :) It must be a lot harder when you have multiple ND children!

You've hit it exactly on the head with balancing DS needs with the needs of others - and I know that’s an impossible ask at times. But I just post as a way of highlighting that sometimes in these situations, the needs of the one shouting the loudest are the needs that get answered, if you get me. It’s such a tough situation for families.

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