Ok so anyone dealing with an autistic toddler knows that some days are worse than others.  I didn't even know we had a caregiver's section on here until about an hour ago and I've been browsing around.  What I want to know is.......how do you cope on the really bad days?  We're having one here today and I'm just about at my wit's end. 

My son is almost 18, and he is mildly autistic.

He is considered "non-verbal", and has had outbursts in the past. (some of them severe)

You might try to work and play with your child, such as puzzles, etc...sometimes just keeping them busy helps.

And sometimes, I think to myself...It could be worse..it could be worse...it could be worse............

Please PM me, if you have any questions!  :)

I see you posted this a couple of months ago. I hope things have gotten better for you. One thing that really helps is just to know others are going through the same thing. Do you have someone you can call just to talk or can come over to give you a break? A couple years ago, a friend and I formed a parents support group. It really helped to get together and talk it out. Our group has fizzled out, but I formed a friendship with another parent of a teenager and we get together and talk when things are rough.

The Autism Resource Specialist has told me that when my son has a melt down, I simply have to let him be.  It sounds horrible in my opinion, not to mention that I want to have a melt down to, but try that.  Put him in his room, make sure there's nothing he can hurt himself, and let him scream it out.  You have nothing to lose, if it doesn't work, then don't do it again.

I hope this helps.  I know it sounds almost heartless, but it's worked with my son (sometimes).

Hi!

My son has Aspersbergers syndrome and is very hyperactive. He is now grown up. When he was little I had days when I thought I couldn't get through another hour. I was a single mom and had two other children just a few years older than he was. He didn't talk at all for years. I had very little outside help. My advice is to just hold on. Better days are coming. When it gets too much just step back and tell yourself it will get better than this., because it will. As long as my son is in a working routine now (at a job), he is pretty good.

My best friend has a severly autistic daughter who used to bite her a lot. She had four other children. As time went by her daughter spoke a little, but learned to draw what she wanted. Her daughter is in a group home because she is happy there. She has a routine, chores that she does and she comes home on weekends. She behaves well.

I know I don't seem like much immediate help, but look at the big picture. It will get better.

Hey Shawn

My oldest son has has mod-severe autism. He is 7 now...the toddler years were SO difficult. I also had newborn twins at the time (one with a serious heart condition) my family in another country. Hang in there, it WILL get easier, having a toddler is hard to begin with, having one who is special needs...even more so. My little guy has calmed down SO much....the constant screaming, destroying, running away etc.. he has been potty trained about 2 years, his speech is still severely delayed but he went from non-verbal to a chatterbox. He loves school and plays baseball with a special needs team in town.I think as a parent, one of the most difficult things for me was the feeling of isolation, like no one understood what we were going through. Email me anytime if you feel like chatting.