
Autism / Autism Spectrum Support Group
Autism is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder which manifests itself in markedly abnormal social interaction, communication ability, patterns of interests, and patterns of behavior. Although the specific etiology of autism is unknown, many researchers suspect that autism results from genetically mediated vulnerabilities to environmental triggers.

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I signed up for this forum back on the summer and then we moved. Now that we are all settled, I need some advice.
You'd think I would be an expert by now since I have been dealing with being a mother of children with autism for years. But I am completly lost at this moment. I think it's because I am so emotionally involved.
These past couple weeks, my 5 year old has been having very intense violent outbursts. He is currently on 1mm of Risperdal a day which helped a great deal over the summer keeping his meltdowns at a minimum. Well now he is in school and doing very well. His behavior in school is great. The minute he gets home the ---- hits the fan. It didn't used to be that way. He came home, and followed his routine and did just fine. Well now he hates that isn't his own idea. His own idea is usually something he isn't allowed to do like go to McDonalds or run in the street, or run and hide in the neigbors yard.......etc.
He is downright mean to me when I say no to something. I can't avoid it anymore. He goes into these rampages that involved tearing up anything in sight or throwing. If he gets a snack or dinner on his plate and it isn't just the right amount, he throws it all on the floor creating a huge mess. I make him clean it up and lately now when I scold him, he laughs at me.
I don't understand it. It's like I am losing control of him. I am consistant. I have to physically hold him when he is "rampaging" and after a while when he is calm I let him go and he slaps me or attacks me. So I decided to try something new which was taking him to his room and I have to hold the door shut all the while he is kicking the door (its almost broken) and shrieking for a very long time. I don't know what works anymore. I need some ideas. We can't increase his Risperdal because he occasionally gets small tremors from the dose he is currently on. My husband wants to see if spanking would help. I don't want to. Are there other options out there? I try everything in my power to avoid these outbursts but its impossilbe now. I dread it when he comes home from school. All the ideas that the autism specialists suggest, I have tried. Will this end? Can anybody relate?
You'd think I would be an expert by now since I have been dealing with being a mother of children with autism for years. But I am completly lost at this moment. I think it's because I am so emotionally involved.
These past couple weeks, my 5 year old has been having very intense violent outbursts. He is currently on 1mm of Risperdal a day which helped a great deal over the summer keeping his meltdowns at a minimum. Well now he is in school and doing very well. His behavior in school is great. The minute he gets home the ---- hits the fan. It didn't used to be that way. He came home, and followed his routine and did just fine. Well now he hates that isn't his own idea. His own idea is usually something he isn't allowed to do like go to McDonalds or run in the street, or run and hide in the neigbors yard.......etc.
He is downright mean to me when I say no to something. I can't avoid it anymore. He goes into these rampages that involved tearing up anything in sight or throwing. If he gets a snack or dinner on his plate and it isn't just the right amount, he throws it all on the floor creating a huge mess. I make him clean it up and lately now when I scold him, he laughs at me.
I don't understand it. It's like I am losing control of him. I am consistant. I have to physically hold him when he is "rampaging" and after a while when he is calm I let him go and he slaps me or attacks me. So I decided to try something new which was taking him to his room and I have to hold the door shut all the while he is kicking the door (its almost broken) and shrieking for a very long time. I don't know what works anymore. I need some ideas. We can't increase his Risperdal because he occasionally gets small tremors from the dose he is currently on. My husband wants to see if spanking would help. I don't want to. Are there other options out there? I try everything in my power to avoid these outbursts but its impossilbe now. I dread it when he comes home from school. All the ideas that the autism specialists suggest, I have tried. Will this end? Can anybody relate?
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Thank you for sharing. It really give me something to think about. By the way, how old is adam?
Thanks again
we have had the aggression for about 4 years now, hits bites slaps pinches kicked, hitting himself, we use a helmet to protect his head from himself.
Now you can see this picture.
These are things that worked for Steven.
And I will also share what works with the children I work with at school.
you take in all the info you get from everyone and Trials of them will show you, what works best for your son.
make sure it not medical, sick, ear infection, something he ate, bowels. All OK? Then...
He comes home from school and is tired of following directions all day long and his little independence is coming out now. Because he is growing up. So maybe he is testing you? "i want this" Mom says 'no'
Do you give him 2 choices of something else?
Do you you give him some* "power" . (That helps kids feel in control.)
Like... You can have speggitti or meatloaf.
McDonalds can be at the end of a star chart. He does 5 things right and he gets McD's at the end.
Have you ever done a star chart before?
The time out in the room is a good plan, let him break the door, its costy but you are the BOSS. It will teach him in time, you mean what you say and he has to follow your directions. I suggest you do not hold him any more unless he is hurting himself.
That can make a child go way over the top and escalate so high it can take an hr for them to calm down enough to THINK of letting them out of thier calming place.
Spanking I do not agree with because it does nothing (in my opion) but cause pain to someone who is not behaving right.
Well there is a reason always for bad behavior.
Finding the reason is the hard part. once you figure out the reason, its easy!
So if he wants some control, well give him 2 choices.
He doesnt like thoes choices? Bummer... Then you can make the choice for him.
Tons of praise when he doing the right thing. No matter how small it is. washing his hands, getting dressed anything he does right praise the heck out of it.
When he throws things like your doing make him clean it up.
Believe me i know how exhasting it is.
Maybe he needs a different routine when he gets home from school?
Maybe he needs a break time?
Do whatever he wants to do for awhile, then... its time to have dinenr etc.
I could go on and on. but i am not suer what you have tried, Do you use visuals?
Even if he talks visuals help alot.
I seriously feel as a parent and working with special children who have very challenging behaviors.
We need to know what happened before the behavior started, what occured during, and what happened in the end,
Chart it and you may see something you did not see before.
We have to take 5 too, esp when the behavior is severe.
Its taxing on the mind and when your emotions are involved it is horrible to say the least.
We can help you find a way to help him.
I would perhaps see if is done with Risperdol, Steven had to change from risperdol to Geodon, because the risperdol was not effective any longer and we could not increase the dose either.
hang in there Mom yes it does get better but it takes alot of hard work and patients.
Remember to take a hot bath.
(hug)))
I have been doing the 2 option thing because you are so right, this kid wants control. These past 2 weeks that has only made him angrier. Its so hard to deal with these kids and their big feelings.
I will take your advice on changing the routine up a little. See how it goes.
Thanks for the response. You and Priscilla have been very helpful