When I was discussing with a child with Asperger’s syndrome strategies to encourage him not to go into a rage, I asked him if a hug from his mother would help him feel better. He replied with an emphatic ‘No! It makes me madder.’ That was very useful information to know. Touch, and especially attempts at physical restraint, can increase the feelings of anger and energy levels. Sometimes asking the person ‘What’s the matter?’ can also inflame the situation, because when experiencing severe emotional distress, the person’s ability to articulate the cause of the anger can be significantly
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This is the most bewildering experience of them all. How can I both crave physical touch, and resent it at the same time?
