Sensory Meltdown vs Tantrum: How to Tell the Difference
6 min read
If you respond to a meltdown like it's a tantrum, you'll make it worse. Here's how to tell them apart fast.
The core difference
Tantrums are goal-driven and stop when the goal is met or ignored. Meltdowns are nervous-system overwhelm and don't respond to consequences or rewards.
Tells of a meltdown
- No clear trigger, or trigger seems tiny
- Body is fully flooded — sweating, shaking
- No checking for an audience
- Doesn't stop when you give in
- Long recovery time, often sleep after