AUTISM PANIC ATTACK / MELTDOWN???

[Firsttimeasdmom]

Hi,

We are currently moving home, city + schools. So there has been a lot of changes and my 5yr asd son is still not in signed up to the new school yet as they are going over his ehcp.

HIis anxiety has gone through the roof which is understandable but recently hes had these sudden out of nowhere frights/panic attacks. His face changes color and he suddenly looks horrified and starts screaming and running away from all of us. As if he's seen a monster.

I've only ever seen him have this episode when he's on melatonin....he reacts rly badly to melatonin, so i never gave it to him again. It seems to give him anxiety.

Anyway, we arnt giving him anything, but his anxiety is up because of the move. These episodes r usually fleating however this last episode was long and scary to see him go through. We were at a park this morning. I am trying to take him to the park as much as possible to keep regulated until he starts school. And he was on the spin ride. I was pushing and he suddenly got upset and looked nervous and then it started. He got so freaked out and started screaming and running off as though hes seen a ghost. He is only semi verbal but in these moments he cant communicate anything. He gets so scared and runs off. As i run after him he pushes away from me while screaming. I ended up having to lift him to the car and go home. Even at home he was still angry but calmer. Didnt want me to go near him. Even though this whole time during he move he is so clingy to me. Sleeps next to me and in general wants me near him. But during these episodes he runs off away from me. Im not sure whats happening. Once the episode is over hes fine and now sitting right next to me cuddling me.

Do autism meltdowns make the child frightened? As if hes in a nightmare? Or is this something else?

Also wanted to add, when he had these episodes before he would run to me for help, this time he was running away from me. Im trying to think why hes not coming to me for help. Did i push the ride too quickly, did he think i wont be able to understand him in that moment. It really upset me thinking he cant come to me when scared

This sounds really tough for you OP

Isn't the meltdown likely to be caused by sensory overload-even if you can't see the things that are causing him distress?

He would be running away from everything in the moment (so not frightened of you or rejecting you ) in response to the overload.

Adults suffering like this can still suddenly find themselves struggling -even after years of experience of knowing what causes the stress or how to deal with it. At 5 it is probably just completely overwhelming.

I taught teens with autism - in a mainstream school with a support unit just for autism.

The teens (so those with long experience of being sent into meltdown) were often still learning to run to their 'safe space' before everything got too much. ( Some were likely just to run or to hit out blindly when overloaded/overwhelmed.) Recognising the right moment to get away was hard for them still.

They were not afraid of the people they ran from. They were overwhelmed. It was a sort of 'flight or fight' response. Reason wasn't involved once it got going.

Your son might be dealing with this and is too young to know what is happening until he is overwhelmed.

Agree with Lost. Sounds like a meltdown. At the park it may have been because of sensory overload. Look at the flight or fight response.

Has DS had an OT assessment and is their OT provision in the EHCP?

The new LA should be making provision for DS and providing anything currently specified and quantified in section F while reviewing and potentially amending the EHCP.

Interesting, thank you for the responses. I wouldn't have known sensory overload can look like this. I had mini heart attack seeing all this. Was really shaken by it and got comments by onlookers. He's never usually like this. I will speak to senco and ask for o.t assessment. We do have a private o.t but need to find new ones in our new location and see if they can help

You don’t need to pay for private OT, it should be in section F of the EHCP.