ASD and anger/anxiety your thoughts please...

[Handywoman]

So, we have just been to the cinema to see 'Wreck It Ralph'.

dd2 (almost 8 ? ASD) has been pleading to go and see it for over a week. We don't go to the cinema very much (perhaps 3 times a year) and dd2 has been generally OK at the cinema with noise levels although I am prepared to believe dd2 is quite adept at hiding the things she finds difficult. This despite the fact that she shows little ability to value the thoughts and motivations of others. But I digress.....

She skipped in to the cinema. Shortly before we went in she must have been really relaxed as she said, 'we are a really happy family aren't we mummy'. We went in, donned our 3D glasses and that was that. Initially I saw dd2 with her fingers in her ears. When she saw me notice, she took her fingers out of her ears.

At the end of the film (still in fairly empty cinema, lights still down low) I asked dd2 if she enjoyed it.... she immediately got very cross and said 'you must not say that because it is embarrassing and rude, don't talk to me like that'. Normally I brush such things aside and move on but as we have had a lovely day I said, "Mummy just wants to know if you enjoyed it" (school girl error, I know!) to which she became enraged and cross, and ultimately dissolved into a raging tantrum. By the time we got out in to the lobby she was crying and screaming (although thankfully not kicking out). She cried and screamed and sobbed all the way home in the car (upsetting dd1 who is quite sensitive and gets genuinely upset/frustrated at dd2's ability to wreck a perfectly decent afternoon).

Been thinking of this in the context of Ed Psych's comments about dd2's anxiety coming out in ways like becoming cross about tiny noises around her.

Could this outburst be to do with her being overstimulated? dd2 said the noise was ok but then again she absolutely finds it impossible to talk about how she feels. The most she can articulate about feelings is either being happy/upset/cross or someone else was out of order. If I try to probe her feelings she always say 'I don't want to talk about it mummy'.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this theory? Sometimes dd2's reactions seem so unbelievably surprising/out of proportion but I'm wondering they can be understood in the context of sensory overload that cannot be articulated. Am I talking out of my behind? Can anyone throw me a line or put me straight?

[Kleinzeit]

I'm glad you're mostly on top of that Handywoman. DS is an only so I don't have any experience of dealing with brothers and sisters. I know there are books for sibs but I don't know if they assume you have a diagnosis.

[Mckenngp1]

Odeon do autism friendly screenings quite regularly. Low lights are on throughout, noise volume is lower, no adverts to plough through and shouldn't matter if you need to get up, move around. We have had reactions like that before from over stimulation and things not being how she expected them to be.

[Dededum]

Well DS2 having a quirky older brother (AS) is very skilled at dealing with all sorts. So yes it is annoying for him sometimes but there is an upside.

[DameMargotFountain]

you're welcome