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Neurodivergent_lou Profile picture
@neuro_lou
Oct 2, 2023 • 10 tweets • 3 min read • Read on X
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Autistic Meltdowns Vs Shutdowns

#ActuallyAutistic #Neurodivergent #Neurodiversity #Autism All slides have a yellow background with black text. All slides have my username @neurodivergent_lou in the bottom left hand corner. Slide 1: Text reads- Autistic Meltdowns Vs Shutdowns.
Slide 2: Text reads - Differences between Autistic Shutdowns and Meltdowns - Autistic Meltdowns. An autistic meltdown is a response to overwhelm where an autistic person temporarily loses control. Meltdowns look different for different autistic people. Typically, but not always, a meltdown is more of an external reaction compared to a shutdown which is often described as more of an internal response. During an autistic meltdown, someone may become so overwhelmed that they may: Scream. Shout. Lash out.
Slide 3: Text reads - During a meltdown, everything gradually gets louder, brighter and I become more aware of textures, like the feel of my clothes against my skin. It feels like I have been holding a bucket of overwhelm which has been filling up and filling up until everything eventually explodes. This can result in lack of control of our body and we may become less aware of our surroundings. It can feel absolutely exhausting.
Slide 5: Text reads- Differences between Autistic Shutdowns and Meltdowns - Autistic Shutdowns During an autistic shutdown, someone may: Go completely silent Lie fully flat or curl up into a ball Not be able to move Some people describe autistic shutdowns as like when a computer overheats and shuts down. We may become so overwhelmed that we are then unable to function. Autistic people may unconsciously learn to shutdown instead of having a meltdown. This is because meltdowns can cause more external issues such as, causing issues in relationships or other people reacting negatively in public.
Slide 5: Text reads- During a shutdown, it feels like everything goes quiet and all the background noise disappears into a distant buzzing. I feel like I physically can't move or get the words out of my mouth. Sometimes I can dissociate too and feel like I am floating above watching my surroundings go on. Usually I stare into space and fixate my eyes on one place. Everything else goes blurry. Sometimes autistic people don't realize that they are having a shutdown until after they are able to recover.
Slide 6: Text reads- Similarities between Autistic Shutdowns and Meltdowns During both autistic meltdowns and shutdowns, someone might feel... Disconnected from the world Empty Like a burden Tearful Unregulated Overwhelmed Out of control Exhausted
Slide 7: Text reads- Similarities between Autistic Shutdowns and Meltdowns a long recovery time afterwards Not being able to speak or communicate Not being able to process information An urge to escape For both meltdowns and shutdowns, someone might experience... Heightened senses the world moving faster or slower than usual
Slide 8: Text reads- Similarities between Autistic Shutdowns and Meltdowns Autistic meltdowns and shutdowns are... Not a choice Not a way to 'seek attention' Often due to a build up of triggers Different to tantrums Not a way to manipulate Not due to bad parenting
Slide 8: Text reads- Similarities between Autistic Shutdowns and Meltdowns Autistic meltdowns and shutdowns are... Not a choice. Not a way to 'seek attention'. Often due to a build up of triggers. Different to tantrums. Not a way to manipulate. Not due to bad parenting.
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More from @neuro_lou

Neurodivergent_lou Profile picture
Oct 14, 2025
Autistic Traits I assumed I didn’t experience (And How I Actually Did)

Autistic burnout resource mentioned -

#Autism #ActuallyAutistic #AutismAwareness #Neurodivergent #Neurodiversity #Disability #Disabled #DEI ko-fi.com/post/Autistic-…Image
Having to prepare scripts in my head, before socialising Always feeling like I never quite fitted in, like an alien who landed on another planet The absolute exhaustion from socialising, even if it was an event I loved Found navigating social hierarchies impossible For a time, had a special interest in human behaviour and body language, as a way to ‘make up’ for not understanding social cues. Social Difficulties I can’t be autistic, I socialise and communicate in the same way as my (family member [who I now think is likely autistic]) How this trait showed up? Why I assumed I didn’t experien...
2. Sensory Issues I assumed that everyone else experienced sensory input to the same level as I did, I was ‘just bad at dealing with it’ How this trait showed up? Tears all the labels out of my clothes Struggles with certain food due to the texture (the thought of eating marshmallows makes me want to scream) Feels suddenly frustrated by layers of noises Can smell other people’s perfume from far away Craves certain sensory input e.g. fizzy drinks, heavy blankets, blasting music through headphones Why I assumed I didn’t experience this trait
Read 12 tweets
Neurodivergent_lou Profile picture
Oct 13, 2025
Autistic Traits I assumed I didn’t experience as I interpreted them literally…

Autistic burnout resource mentioned- ko-fi.com/post/Autistic-…All slides have an orange background with black text. Slide 1: text reads - Autistic Traits I assumed I didn’t experience as I Interpreted them Literally
1. Stimming I assumed that because I didn’t flap my hands, that I wasn’t stimming. I didn’t realise that stimming could be a variety of things. How this trait showed up? Why I assumed I didn’t experience this trait Repeating phrases over and over Twirling hair around my fingers Walking on tiptoes Watching moving objects Cracking knuckles
2. Difficulty with social cues/rules I assumed that because I knew the social rule and would follow it all of the time with no exceptions, I was really ‘good’ at understanding social cues/rules. Why I assumed I didn’t experience this trait How this trait showed up? In reality, I struggled to understand that social rules and cues are nuanced and change with the situation. So when at school, if we were told, you are not allowed to speak without being called on, even in an emergency, like alerting to a fire, I would assume that rule applied.
Read 11 tweets
Neurodivergent_lou Profile picture
Aug 4, 2025
As an autistic person, my life got significantly better when I started scheduling days of rest and no expectation…

Autistic burnout resource mentioned - ko-fi.com/post/Autistic-…Image
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Read 12 tweets
Neurodivergent_lou Profile picture
Jul 24, 2025
7 phone life hacks for autistics and ADHDers

Autistic burnout resource mentioned -

#Autism #ActuallyAutistic #AutismAwareness #Neurodivergent #Neurodiversity #Disability #Disabled #DEI ko-fi.com/post/Autistic-…All slides have a light blue background with black text. Slides 1: text reads - 7 phone life hacks for autistics and ADHDers
Use alarms. Use alarms to remind you to move from one activity to the next and to help you to listen to your body. E.g. reminding you to eat, drink or to stretch your legs. You could even set an alarm five minutes before you need to move activities so you have time to process and transition.
2. Turn on Black and White mode. Put your phone in black and white mode to reduce sensory overload and aid focus. To turn on black and white mode, go to settings - accessibility - display & text size - colour filters and then toggle on colour filters. You can also reduce the brightness on your phone. If you do this in settings, you can reduce the brightness to even lower than on the control centre.
Read 12 tweets
Neurodivergent_lou Profile picture
Jun 17, 2025
How ADHD and Autism Might Hide Each Other?

Autistic Burnout Resource mentioned -

#ActuallyAutistic #Autism #Neurodivergent #Neurodiversity #Disability #Disabled ko-fi.com/post/Autistic-…All slides have a blue background with black text. Slide 1: text reads - How ADHD and Autism Might Hide Each Other
Autism ADHD May mask autistic social and communication struggles Hyperactivity may appear as confidence in social situations
Autism ADHD May mask the social exhaustion from interactions The need for interaction with other people for the brain stimulation
Read 16 tweets
Neurodivergent_lou Profile picture
May 31, 2025
Apps for Autistics and ADHDers

#Autism #ActuallyAutistic #AutismAwareness #Neurodivergent #Neurodiversity #Disability #Disabled #DEI Image
Tappy. This app has a fidget section, feelscapes and simple arcade games.
Communication grid. This app has lots of different icons separated into categories which can be spoken aloud.
Read 14 tweets

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