Autistic meltdowns happen. They are not
something that a person with Autism can
always control, and can manifest in a
number of ways, such us explosive, or shutting
down. They are often followed by negative
feelings for the autistic person themselves.
Autistic meltdowns may happen when a
person with Autism has reached capacity
with what they can tolerate.
They can happen when an autistic person
stretches themselves beyond what is
comfortable, socially, mentally, emotionally.
They can happen when an autistic person
takes on too much, at the detriment to their
self care.
They can happen when an autistic person
spends to long in an environment which is
over stimulating, and with too many
external pressures, such as school, or
work, loud busy social events.
They can happen when an autistic person
is in a situation where they have masked for
too long, or put other peoples needs above
their own.Autistic meltdown can take many forms. They may be sudden and explosive, or maybe they've been quietly brewing.
The National Autistic Society says:
It happens when someone becomes
completely overwhelmed by their current
situation and temporarily loses control
of their behaviour. This loss of control can
be expressed verbally (eg shouting,
screaming, crying), physically (eg kicking,
lashing out, biting) or in both ways.
It's like the coke bottle effect. With every
new demand or uncomfortable situation, the
bottle is shaken. Eventually, when the lid is
taken off, the coke explodes everywhere.
Autistic meltdowns can feel similar to this
analogy.
Sometimes, after a meltdown, guilt or
shame may appear. Guilt focused around
what was said, or perhaps broken, during a
meltdown. Perhaps things were said that weren't meant.
Shame or embarrassment may appear.
Perhaps the meltdown happened at work,
or in a public place. These feelings are a
normal part of the process for meltdown.
Avoiding meltdowns is not always possible
for an Autistic person, as we live in a
society that is not always neurodiverse
friendly.
But, we can put some protective barriers in
place to limit the impact.
Self care is important. Scheduling and
blocking out windows of time that are non
negotiable, for something you love. It could
be reading a book undisturbed, time in
nature alone or simply sitting in silence for
an hour. Whatever self care is to you, do
not underestimate its power. Fill your own
cup!
Asking for help. In today's busy world,
overwhelm lurks behind every corner. One
job after another awaits, and we often have
to do things we don't like. This is where
asking for help comes in. This may
be in the form of asking a family member or
friend to do a job around the house for you,
to hiring a cleaner to take a load off. It may
be Scheduling in an appointment with your
counsellor.
Whatever it is, try reaching out!
Meeting your own needs first. Many autistic
people have spent a lifetime masking, and
people pleasing. This is one of the quickest
routes to burn out. Making sure you say No
to what doesn't serve you, or leaving
situations that are not comfortable to you, is
one of the best ways to meet your own
needs first!
These are just a few big ones that I've
observed. Enough sleep, reducing
negative sensory stimulus, eating well,
getting outdoors, and being kind to
yourself are others.
If you are recovering from autistic
meltdown, shut down or burn out, find a
safe and comfortable place, and do what
you need to do for you, for as long as it
takes.
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