A meltdown is beyond an autistic person’s control. Their brain is overwhelmed & can’t take anymore. They might start crying or fall to the floor because they’re just mentally done - completely overwhelmed.
The fight, flight, freeze response has been triggered, almost like a panic attack kind of a feeling. It’s a horrible feeling.
You can also shut down, and just implode in on yourself instead of having an outward explosion.
A shutdown can actually be worse and more painful for an autistic person. At least with a meltdown, you have a bit of a catharsis at the end and sometimes can feel better after.
A shutdown can actually be worse and more painful for an autistic person. At least with a meltdown, you have a bit of a catharsis at the end and sometimes can feel better after.
The person who is experiencing a meltdown or a shutdown can no longer fully access all of their cognitive thinking as their adrenaline is pumping, and they’re just overwhelmed.
It can be scary and embarrassing.
It can be scary and embarrassing.
When I have a meltdown … if I feel it coming, I’m going to run to the bathroom and hide somewhere alone, because I don’t want anyone to see me.
I’m not doing this for attention. Attention is literally the last thing I want or am looking for.
I’m not doing this for attention. Attention is literally the last thing I want or am looking for.
As a kid, I just needed some time alone to calm down and breathe, but people would keep interacting with me and keep amping me back up.
It would get worse and I wouldn’t be able to calm my brain down so I could get over it.
It would get worse and I wouldn’t be able to calm my brain down so I could get over it.
A meltdown is a bit like riding a roller coaster – you don’t have control over when it stops so you’ve just got to get to the end of it.
That’s a really big difference between a meltdown and someone throwing a tantrum.
That’s a really big difference between a meltdown and someone throwing a tantrum.
@threadreaderapp unroll please
