WHAT IS A TANTRUM?
A tantrum is a type of outburst associated with children or those with emotional distress, in which physical control may be lost, and may include stubbornness, crying, scream, kicking, yelling, angry ranting, and can be express in a tirade, or violent speech. In autistic individuals, especial those with Mental Retardation, are more vulnerable to having tantrums than their non-autistic counterparts. Although autistic individuals are more prone to having tantrums, anyone can have a tantrum once in a while, regardless of age, or gender. A tantrum is a very straight-forward term in which a child and/or person will occasionally look to see if their behavior gets a reaction. A child will throw a tantrum in order to achieve a specific goal. A child will take a precaution during a tantrum so they can't hurt them self. Once a specific goal is met, the tantrum will stop as suddenly as it began. For example: "A child cannot get his way." Tantrums can usually last as long as 10 minutes and as quick as less than a minute.
WHAT IS A "MELTDOWN"?
A meltdown is a type of tantrum, in which it is describe in most autistic individuals than a regular tantrum. The term "meltdown" is usually used when talking about a child or person with autism, especially those with Asperger's syndrome,(an extremely high-functioning form of autism).
A meltdown is a type of tantrum, in which something takes over the child or person, and there is a total loss of control. A child and/or person having a meltdown needs someone to recognize his/her behavior, and needs someone to help him/her regain control of his/herself, while with a regular tantrum, a child can regain control of his/herself. A person with autism cannot regain control of themself. A person having a meltdown has no interest or involvement in a social situation. A person with a meltdown will not consider their own safety. A meltdown conveys that no one is in control. A person having a meltdown will not look, or care if those around them are recognizing their behavior.
Unlike a tantrum, a meltdown will not end suddenly as it starts, however it will wind down over a period of time, as the person is moving under their own power. A meltdown can be proceeded by "silent seizures", in which there may be breaks in the meltdown in which they may be silent. Unlike tantrums, meltdowns can be caused by unknown reasons. A person or child having a meltdown may not tell the parents what is bothering them. Meltdowns can be caused by an autistic person becoming frustrated or agitated.
Meltdowns can be anything from a minor incident to something very traumatic.
For example:
"A child getting upset, because he didn't have any "green toys", and the parent find the child's "green toys". The parent then asked him what really happened, and the child tells them that "he was being teased at school". The parent then tries to help him solve the problem in a positive way."
A meltdown is a type of tantrum, in which something takes over the child or person, and there is a total loss of control. A child and/or person having a meltdown needs someone to recognize his/her behavior, and needs someone to help him/her regain control of his/herself, while with a regular tantrum, a child can regain control of his/herself. A person with autism cannot regain control of themself. A person having a meltdown has no interest or involvement in a social situation. A person with a meltdown will not consider their own safety. A meltdown conveys that no one is in control. A person having a meltdown will not look, or care if those around them are recognizing their behavior.
Unlike a tantrum, a meltdown will not end suddenly as it starts, however it will wind down over a period of time, as the person is moving under their own power. A meltdown can be proceeded by "silent seizures", in which there may be breaks in the meltdown in which they may be silent. Unlike tantrums, meltdowns can be caused by unknown reasons. A person or child having a meltdown may not tell the parents what is bothering them. Meltdowns can be caused by an autistic person becoming frustrated or agitated.
Meltdowns can be anything from a minor incident to something very traumatic.
For example:
"A child getting upset, because he didn't have any "green toys", and the parent find the child's "green toys". The parent then asked him what really happened, and the child tells them that "he was being teased at school". The parent then tries to help him solve the problem in a positive way."
HOW LONG CAN THEY LAST?
A temper tantrum can last for up to a few minutes, while a meltdown can last anywhere from ten(10) minutes, to over an hour, sometimes even all day long. When a meltdown ends, the child and the parent(s) are totally exhausted, and does not necessarily breathe complete silence, as frustration and agitation may continued, which can last for the remainder of the day, and can sometimes last into the next, which may cause a meltdown to return into full force. Some meltdowns can recur, and some will not.
Some meltdown can last until autistic individuals are exhausted or until they regain their own emotions, which may not be easy. Meltdowns are not just associated with autism, as other mental health problems, such as schizophrenia, depression, bipolar I and II, and anxiety disorders. Some doctors have misdiagnosed autism as other mental illnesses, or misdiagnose other mental illnesses as autistic. This is because meltdown usually occur in many mental disorders, and autism can have many mental problems as symptoms, as with other mental and developmental disabilities.
Some meltdown can last until autistic individuals are exhausted or until they regain their own emotions, which may not be easy. Meltdowns are not just associated with autism, as other mental health problems, such as schizophrenia, depression, bipolar I and II, and anxiety disorders. Some doctors have misdiagnosed autism as other mental illnesses, or misdiagnose other mental illnesses as autistic. This is because meltdown usually occur in many mental disorders, and autism can have many mental problems as symptoms, as with other mental and developmental disabilities.