Meltdowns can be caused by a lot of things, and are primarily the result of an overwhelmed brain that can no longer cope. Possible triggers include: change, uncertainty, tiredness, masking, sensory overload, or unmet sensory, communication, mental health, and physical health needs. The causes of meltdowns tend to be cumulative, and the last thing that happened was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Being mindful of the whole picture surrounding a person prone to meltdowns is useful. For the past two years the added uncertainty presented by the corona virus pandemic has reduced many people’s ability to cope with other parts of life. Taking the whole surrounding situation into account is important when making plans and trying to reduce stress. As meltdowns result from a cumulative number of stressors it’s important to remember that any one thing you can prevent from being an issue, no matter how small, can be of help.
In the upcoming series we will address the different factors that can cause meltdowns and how to address these.