Can meltdowns ever be really dangerous? How far should you let them go.

[getbakainyourjimjams]

DS1 had his worst ever today. Over an OCD ritual that needed to be broken (because it was endangering ds2 and ds3).

Anyway asides from the obvious- headbutting the wall, and headbutting the front door enough to break the glass, trying to get out of the front door (all 3 locks were on), he worried me physically today. For starters he literally foamed at the mouth, which was alarming but I assume harmless, but then he started shaking uncontollably all over- like shock. I thought it was going too far so kind of allowed the ocd ritual, but under my control. We still need to break it and I am concerned it will be the same scenario tomorrow. Anyone ad this?

no idea, but that sounds scary. what was the ritual?

JJ - not sure if you would go down this route but have you even considered some kind of medication (risperodone) to help with anxiety etc

It is extremely scarey and worrying for you all. have you got any one (maybe Camhs, school) you could talk to?

The routine is coming into the house. DS1 can leave the house without a problem but coming in has a fixed routine- which takes about 3 or 4 minutes. I've kept it very rigid as otherwise we can be outside trying to come in for 20 minutes. He sometimes tries to extend the routine- he did yesterday, and tried again today. I'm not happy with it being any longer because whilst we're outside ds2 and ds3 are alone in the house. DS2 is reasonably sensible but only 4, but ds3 is only 1 so not safe to be left alone (he's in a playpen whilst I bring ds1 in, but even so).

I don't think CAHMS will be any use- ds1 is far too autistic for them, but we do have a clinical psychologist we see regularly. She;s good to bounce ideas off and I will ask her next time we chat.

I don't really want to medicate at the moment as I don't think its necessary. Todays reaction was extreme. Usually he would have just screamed and hit himself, which we can handle. Maybe he;s eaten something we had a nightmare this morning as dh went off to work and couldn;t drive straight off as the windscreen was frozen. DS1 was hitting his head against our ropy front room windows and poor dh couldn't get back in (because of all the bolts). I was with ds2 and didn't realise what was going on. Maybe he's eaten something for this much headbutting. School got him eating meatballs yesterday which is fantastic, but some contain flour.....

It was the shaking that worried me- he did appear to be in shock and was kind of rolling his eyes- I did worry that he would induce a seizure, but maybe that's over the top.

He was fine once I'd taken him outside (limited by a countdown) again, and sat on my lap eating a biscuit and having a drink and a very long cuddle.

ahhh a cuddle is always good medicine

sorry to hear you had such a hard day, must be traumatic and scary for you all

hope things are easier tomorrow

My ds does the shaking and eyeroling, I do think it is a shock reaction. I don't think there is much you can do other than stick with the established routine and ride it out.

I notice my ds also does this when afraid.

Same again today .