Specific Strategy

OK Today was a challenge and it seems to be a recurring behavior.
Dakota seems to be occasionally triggered by the media reports that come on to the TV or Radio. Particularly reports that seem to focus on issues or politians who are not viewed in our house as "favorable.
In other words he hears his parents and grandparents spout certain comments and then when the situation is just right and a newscast comes on reporting on such people or issues--- he flies off the handle
Shouting and growling saying they need to "shut up " or stop talking about it or vote the "sucker" out or whatever things you all can conjure up in your mind---It turns from verbal ranting into shouting till it escalates to physical contact with anyone in his way if he feels that he is not getting the reaction he seems to think he wants.

I realize that the best way to avoid this particular behavior is to curtail our comments in the first place --- Easier said than done--- we are human and we don't realize that when we are in the heat of the moment commenting on something we don't like that it is permeating his brain later to rear its head. Then when it does all bets are off and you find yourself in the moment doing all the things you know are feeding the behavior-- perhaps shouting yourself or becoming physically aggressive to try to calm the "Autism" That is wrong in so many ways and you realize it later.

This is where I have discovered something that has started to work for us. Of course the best case scenario is to totally ignore the behavior all together -- Often time this is IMPOSSIBLE.Again pick your battles is it something that need to be dealt with or can it be left to fizzle out--- Once you make that assessment what I have found is Complete silence and ignoring as much of the aggressiveness and verbal growling as yo possibly can. And if it becomes physical where he grabs the minute he touches me -- I go LIMP--I just flop over and go limp. I have flopped on the bed and literally played dead --of sorts -- IT WORKS
I have to say that I have had remarkable results-- Dakota gets very concerned and curious but its almost like having a re-set button.
I don't have to stay bent over or flopped on the bed very long and he comes around. That coupled with a lot of silence after "I come to" seems to do the trick.

Don't know if it will work for anyone else but it is very effective in our home. Depending on the situation I will try to have a conversation later in the day about what caused him to react that way . I usually don't get much participation verbally but I can tell that usually there is understanding and sometimes even remorse about what happened earlier.

All I can say is just keep trying -- and find what works for you and your family --eventually something will click!