How to stop slamming your head/body parts against the wall?

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A friend of mine has meltdown/overload issues and the only thing that seems to help him is slamming his head against the wall or sometimes if he is lucky, his hands. I’m really worried about him and was wondering if anyone had any tips to prevent those and any tips on how to vent out those emotions without hurting himself like that or at least hurting himself less.

I'm genuinely embarrassed to mention this, but I've given myself concussions once or twice during my worst meltdowns, and once hurt my hand really bad. I don't really have any good tips for how to vent other ways in the moment because when I had meltdowns like that I didn't think anything through during it, so I couldn't think of alternatives at all. I haven't had a meltdown like that in a long time though because I learned what exactly was causing them, and how to avoid having one and how to not let things build up like that in the first place.

I punched and slammed my head last weekend. It was the first time I've done that for a long time, and I wasn't proud of myself but I couldn't stop it.

alobaby, All you can do is hope that your friend is in a safe place when a meltdown occurs in your presence. Let them know that you understand what a meltdown is, and that you care about their safety. I think that's the best form of support that anyone who experiences meltdowns can receive. If someone told me how to have a meltdown, or tried to change my behaviours under pressure, I'd feel misunderstood. If they talked to me at a calm time and expressed emotional support / understanding overall, I'd feel much better -- even if it didn't change my instincts during a meltdown.

HeroOfHyrule, I'm sorry to hear that.

Would it help to develop a deliberate non-harmful stim?
Like waving arms and jumping around or anything like that.
If it gets deliberately practiced whenever your friend is feeling upset, possibly it might become the go-to before more damaging behaviours?
Not sure though, just thought it might be worth a try.

the only thing that kept me from melting down was physically exhausting myself through exercise.

For each day that you don't harm yourself, you could give yourself a little reward.

i try to reward myself often just for continuing to exist in this hellworld.

part of meltdowns and self injuring has to do with "interoception", the ability to recognize your emotions (anger, embarrassment. disappointment, frustration,etc) before your emotions overwhelm you. (generic you, meaning a person) Then new ways to deal with the emotions can be learned.
Therapy is available in many places to help, since it is possible to learn how to recognize signs of being upset earlier and to channel them into 'something else' or slow them down.
Some occupational therapists specialize in this. Your friend could ask their doctor or social worker, etc to help them find an anger management specialist or an occupational therapist who specializes in interoception struggles. (even though such overwhelm can be from other things besides anger).