Taking the First Steps
Take a moment to calm yourself. If you can keep a calm demeanor, you'll help the autistic person feel calmer too. Keep a patient and understanding attitude. Show them the same kindness that you'd want other people to show you if you were at your wits' end. Never shout at, scold, or punish an autistic person for being upset. They aren't doing this on purpose, and being unkind will only make it worse. If you can't control yourself, it's better to leave than to make the situation worse.
Ask what's wrong, if the person is able to speak. Sometimes, they may be overwhelmed, and need quiet time. Other times, they might be experiencing difficult emotions related to something in their life (like a bad grade at school or an argument with a friend). During severe sensory overload, people who are ordinarily verbal may suddenly lose the ability to speak. This is due to severe overstimulation and will pass with relaxation time. If someone has lost the ability to speak, ask only yes/no questions that they can answer with thumbs up/thumbs down.
Take them to a quiet place. If you cannot, encourage any people in the room to leave. Explain that unexpected noise and movement are hard for the autistic person right now, and she would be happy to hang out again sometime later.
Ask if they want you to stay with them. Sometimes, the person might want you there to keep them company and help them calm down. Other times, they might want to be alone for a while. Either way, don't take it personally. If they can't speak right now, let them answer with a thumbs up/thumbs down. Or you can say "Do you want me to stay or leave?" and point at the ground and at the door, and then let them point to where they want you to be. If a small child wants to be left alone, you can sit across the room and do something quiet (like playing on your phone or reading a book) so there is still an adult present.
Help them with any difficult tasks. When they're distressed, they may be unable to think clearly, and they may have trouble doing simple tasks like taking off an uncomfortable sweater or getting a drink of water. Help them out, without infringing on their personal space. If they're tugging at uncomfortable clothing, offer to help them remove it. (Don't try to remove clothes without permission, as this can be startling and upsetting.) If they're trying to drink from the sink, get a cup for them.
Keep them safe if they are thrashing, flailing, or throwing things. Move dangerous or breakable objects out of their way. Put a pillow or folded-up jacket under their head to protect it, or put their head on your lap if it's safe. If they are throwing things, it might be that the throwing motion calms them down. Try giving them something that can be thrown safely (like a throw pillow). Let them throw it, and then retrieve it so they can throw it again. This can calm them. If you don't feel safe getting close to them, then don't. Let them continue until they calm down and wear themselves out.
Get help if you don't know what to do. Parents, teachers, and caregivers may know how to help. They may be able to offer specific insight about the autistic person's particular needs. Police are not usually trained to help with autistic meltdowns, and they may worsen the situation or hurt your autistic loved one. Instead, get someone who the autistic person knows and trusts.
Using Sensory Calming Techniques
Reduce sensory input to help an overwhelmed autistic person. Often, autistic people have problems with sensory input; they hear, feel, and see things much more intensely than others do. It is as if the volume for everything has been turned up. Turn off distracting devices like TVs or radios (unless the autistic person tells you that they want it on). Try dimming the lights. Let them hide in small places if they want. For example, if they want to hide in a closet or shut themselves into a cupboard with their phone, let them. (Just make sure that they can get out on their own.)
Touch them only if they are okay with it. Hold them, rub their shoulders, and show affection. Use firm touch, instead of light touch, because this is more reassuring. It could help them calm down. If they say or show they don't want to be touched, don't take it personally; they simply can't handle touch at the moment. You can offer a hug by spreading your arms and seeing if they come to you. If you hug them, and they stiffen or push away, let them go. Maybe they aren't able to handle the sensory input of hugging right now, or maybe your clothes have a texture that's uncomfortable to them.
Try massaging an autistic person who wants to be touched. Many autistic people have benefited from massage therapy. Help them into a comfortable position, gently squeeze their temples, massage their shoulders, rub their backs, or their feet. Keep your movements gentle, soothing, and careful. They may direct you to areas that they want you to touch, such as by pointing at their shoulders or squeezing their face.
Let them stim safely as much as they need to. Stimming is a series of repetitive movements that are calming mechanisms for autistic people. Examples of stimming include hand flapping, finger flicking, and rocking. Stimming is a crucial self-calming mechanism during emotional distress. If they are hurting themselves, see if you can redirect them to doing something safer (like hitting couch cushions instead of their head). Don't restrain them, no matter what they are doing. Grabbing and holding an autistic person against their will is dangerous, especially when the person is in fight-or-flight mode. Both of you could get seriously hurt during the autistic person's attempts to break free.
Offer to apply gentle pressure to their body. If the person is sitting up, stand behind them and cross your arms over their chest. Face your head sideways and rest your cheek on them head. Squeeze them tightly, asking them if they want you to squeeze less or more tightly. This is called deep pressure, and it should help them relax and feel better. Alternatively give the person a weighted blanket to use for calming deep pressure.
Using Verbal Techniques
Ask if they'd like you to lead them in a relaxation exercise. If the cause of distress seems to be emotional (not sensory), then a relaxation exercise may help them calm down enough to talk about it. If they say yes to a relaxation exercise, try helping them through one of these: Sensory grounding: Have them name 5 things they can see right now, 4 things they can touch, 3 things they can hear, 2 things they can smell (or that they like to smell in general), and 1 good thing about themselves. Count off on your fingers. Box breathing: Have them breathe in for a count of 4, hold it for a count of 4, breathe out for a count of 4, rest for a count of 4, and repeat.
Listen and validate their feelings if they want to talk about what's bothering them. Sometimes, people just need to vent and be listened to. Let them talk it out if they want to discuss what's bothering them. Here are some helpful examples of things you could say: "I'm here to listen if you'd like to talk about it." "Take your time. I'm not going anywhere." "I'm sorry to hear that that happened to you." "That sounds difficult." "Of course you're upset. You're in a really tough situation. It's natural to be stressed about that."
Let them cry it out. Sometimes, people just need to "have a good cry" and let out their emotions. Try saying "It's okay to cry" or "Cry all you need to. I'm here."
Offer comfort as needed. You can bring a comfort item, offer to play their favorite music, offer affection, or do whatever you know helps the autistic person feel calmer. What's most calming can be different depending on the situation. So if they decline a hug in favor of listening to their favorite music and rocking back and forth, don't take it personally. They know what they need right now.
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