*Autistic Shutdowns collection* - Do you experience these ?

Glad you're feeling a bit better since the op.

You have just described  my daily life, interesting that it was anaemia causing you to feel that way.

I've been checked for anaemia this was when I had no idea I was autistic turns out I was a picture of health according to the doctor who then wanted to give me pills for stress. 

But then again I realised, well had been proved wrong in trusting these doctors as for years I had a complaint that they missed on numerous appointments, one appointment private they found the cause I had an op now I'm feeling better. So who knows? 

glad it was of help to you DC. Thanks for contributing to this thread. It is  the social situations before and after where many people get autistic shutdowns so you are not alone.

...Greetings Mr. Aidie (I spelt Your name wrong before.) You know (currently) what I am like (a bit silly when able)...& so this should be okay to post as a remark in the middle-ish of a Thread. I just tapped upon THAT LINK. My goodness, I had no idea! Someone should start a Thread about this Link, all on its own! I always thought that "shutdowns" were *physical*, and for Myself, I meant what I said about Physical Illnesses such as Asthma causing Me to "shutdown" first of all.

...But the sudden inabillity to comprehend words as a 'shutdown', as said upon that LINK... Yes! I have had this! It is VERY scary and not nice. I never attributed it to "shutdowns" because I could always compensate and/or walk away. I would have called it TMI (Too Much Information), but never a "shutdown" because I could always cope. 

If TMI counts as a "shutdown", then, yes yes, this is the only kind of shutdown which I have... in 'social situations'... so I usually avoid social situations...unless I am focussed upon learning from them and/or I am able to take/write down NOTES.

(In My life, simply blocking people out and leaving does not count as a shutdown... just 'being stubborn' or unwell.)

ok I wont use your shutdown account in my condensed report thingy, Thanks for letting me know you dont think your shutdowns are not autistic related

Thanks for sharing your view on this - I think you're very right in terms of shutdowns not being exclusively autistic. There are lots of autism traits that are also shared by people with other conditions, or just people going through specific events (e.g. experiencing a meltdown or shutdown as a result of stress/shock, as you mentioned).

I definitely relate to the sensory sensitivities and the fatigue caused by masking. I was recently praised by my friends for masking so well and being so easy to communicate with, so I had to try and convey to them how much energy that takes and how drained I feel at the end of the day.

This weekend, I think I've experienced a mixture of overload and the fatigue associated with my conditions. I spent most of yesterday in bed and had a very early night, but still feel absolutely exhausted.

It's been really helpful not to feel I have to work out the cause for my fatigue, but just accept that it's happening and choose to take time out to rest and take care of myself.

You always share really useful insights here, so thanks again.

any suggestions as to what i do with my collection ?

I am getting some positive feedback which is encouraging.

thanks Beefree 

I think it would be a great idea to do that... I have found it helpful for a number of reasons...

• To reflect on my own experience and where there are parallels with other people's experience (to know I am not alone) 
• To understand potential triggers
• To appreciate that our reactions to them will largely be dependent on the impact that they have on our ability to function in everyday life
• To accept that they are part of who I am and not try and fight against them so much but to reflect on ways to reduce the impact of them. 

You have done our community a great service already by starting this thread. Thank you 

yes I would agree I guess, I am still studying the subject.

I am thinking of using this thread somehow eg  turning it into a document so others can download and read it. Maybe, I'll talk to NAS and see what they say. 

thats ok no one has died

Opps I just replied to an earlier post thinking it was the last in the thread because I am accessing it on my mobile... Sorry

I had this conversation with my partner today about shutdowns. He is NT and says he can totally identify with some of the shutdowns i.e. When you drive home and then sit motionless and without thinking or doing anything for a period of time. Generally happens when he has been busy thinking and organising his work. So I guess there are elements of shutdown that perhaps all humans experience. We then went on to talk about how sometimes he can feel alone even when we are together.... And I guess this is when I have shutdown the outside world and I am very much just existing within my own head and body even when others are present and trying to interact and I am completely oblivious. He sees this as been part of my autism but not necessarily the other daily type of shutdowns which he thinks everyone experiences to some degree. Interesting to have this perspective and has made me reconsider my post... not that I would change it just perhaps acknowledge that to some extent some types of shutdown happen for most people. Perhaps the frequency and intensity of the daily shutdowns are just higher in the autistic population? 

thanks for your account of your shutdowns. I am glad this collection has helped you you've made my day.  don't worry how you come across conversation-wise you are perfectly OK, just like most people here, except you seem to be a bit politer which is nice. 

I am so pleased at the range of accounts here and marvel at the response of the people in this community.

I'm sure we will meet again in the other threads

thanks again for your valuable addition

aidie

Thank you Aidie & the community for your accounts of shut downs & melt downs it’s been very very helpful as I now realise what I thought might be the M.E. may partly be Aspergers. Yes I have M.E. A real #%/(&$¥$§ !!!! In the bottom. 

Sometimes or rarely these days if I go to Hobby craft or a supermarket I become over whelmed by the tallness of the shelves of food, the lighting, the people & too much stuff & have melt down & cry in the shop. My husband understands me....takes me to a quiet place...calmly & slowly talks to me in low tones. This helps. I do get melt downs for all sorts of reasons. But less serve than shut downs. 

Shut downs are for me a big thing for me like others. I use ear defenders to block out all noise & go to bed in a darkened room...can last a couple of days then I feel unwell for a week or two. All I can say i go through the same or similar stuff as you all with both shut downs & melt downs. 

But most of all Aidie you & others have given me hope that it’s not all M.E. by being honest & kind. It’s been challenging sorting out what’s what. So now with all of your help as they say I ‘can see the wood through the trees’. 

My phones on mute ‘cause I can’t stand the ringer. I do time calls now & try only to talk to one person a day. Also pace myself....I have lots of systems for coping in place with life & situations. 

Im still not very good at having conversations online & go into monologue...sorry. 

its good to know you are trying. 

Thanks for your concern. Most don't understand. I do have regular appointments with my GP and I am currently on Fluoxetine to help negate the depression/anxiety. Just had the dose upped as it wasn't working well. I was on Sertraline but found that just turned me into a zombie sapping any motivation to do anything. It sucks and everyday is a struggle. But like anyone else you've just gota find a way. 

that was a hard read.

You are really suffering. That sounds like pure torture.  I do not know how you withstand that !  oh my If I was that bad I would have to take medication. Strong medication.  I would try anything ! 

I have to thank you so much for writing this account for others to read and identify with. 

I assume you have been down the GP route and have tried medication. 

I do not think I could function at all, if my shutdowns where that bad! The next time someone says autism isn't a disability I will be thinking of you, and scream at them.

thanks again for this account once again. 

I hope you get some relief from somewhere.

aidie

I experience shut downs on a daily basis. They most frequently occur in the morning shortly after waking and eating. The morning one is caused by the sheer overwhelming amount of sensory information entering my brain. Light, noise, talking, cooking, eating…. It’s all so chaotic. I usually go back to bed after eating. Even if I wake up full of energy, I will be exhausted within 1-2 hours. I experience intense anxiety and my thoughts seem to just swirl around my head. I feel completely out of control. I lock myself in my room and any noise can set me shaking. If someone knocks on my door unexpectedly it makes me jump. I have installed black out blinds in my room so I can cut out any light and wear ear plugs so I can sleep whenever. Although they are more common in the morning, due to my brain being half asleep I guess, they can occur at any time during the day.

They are incredibly disruptive. I am not capable of anything other than being alone at those times. I had to quit my job a couple of months ago because I simply cannot work through it. I feel like I just come apart at the seams and reduced to a quivering wreck.

They can also be delayed. For instance, I went to a supermarket with my sister a few days ago and I was OK going through and getting all the stuff. But within 10 minutes of getting home it hit me hard and I had to go lie down.

Afterwards I just feel numb. I feel like my body and mind have just been dragged through barbed wire and I’ve been bled dry. I have nothing left to feel other than the relief it’s over.