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Dealing with shutdowns

RuthTaylor

Hello All,

Last year I was diagnosed with ASD which was a great relief and I realise that instead of meltdowns I tend to have shutdowns (which I only learnt about recently).  

When I get my shutdowns, I literally can't speak and have to go into a room by myself and not talk to anyone as I feel so overwhelmed. I do find listening to music, watching YouTube or cuddling my cat helpful at times.  My loved ones do find it hard to deal with. I tend to get shutdowns when stressed/anxious, overloaded with information or after socialising.

Just wondered how you deal with shutdowns and what helps you come out of them?

Thank you for your time 

  • in reply to Dawn

    I can’t even go to a medical thing anymore - I can’t even phone the doctor most of the time as it makes me so anxious. My husband deals with things for me at the moment because of this. I did talk to one GP on the phone the other day because she’s female and I know her from before and she was very kind to me. Plus she felt she couldn’t do the mental health referral without talking to me in person so I had to to get that. 
    I’m sorry you are struggling with this problem too - I know how distressing it is.

  • in reply to Kate Kestrel
    1. Hi, I’ve just listened to Drama Queen by Sara Gibbs. It is brilliant, she wasn’t diagnosed until the age of 30. She has done a series of podcasts where she interviews other autistic authors. It’s called Authour. One author really made me laugh, how can people put cucumber in sandwiches? It’s like putting slugs in a sandwich. Autism isn’t all bad!

  • Mine generally occur in medical contexts and are just as problematic as meltdown there. I lock up altogether. I can't talk, can't respond, can't take anything on board, sometimes can't even hear and am aware of very little around me.

    Sometimes, this then tips into melt down.

    It gets to the point I have no "capacity" to give consent to treatment.

  • in reply to Roy

    Audiobooks are wonderful aren’t they? When i’ve got no energy left or my mind is spinning they are a good way to calm my mind. Very soothing. 

  • I have found shutdowns easier to deal with than meltdowns. I do the same as you, I often have to go to bed and have quiet time. I use audiobooks as big help and a weighted blanket. Sometimes I just need to be away from people. I take my Jack Russell with me, we know how the other feels.

  • I have shutdowns too - I only very rarely have meltdowns. 
    with shutdowns  I just feel I can’t engage with life at all, I just want to go completely within my self and not see anyone or go out or anything. I just want to hide away from everything. Completely, if I go and visit my relatives (who I don’t see very often) I’m absolutely shattered afterwards and just need to be very quiet when I get home. Hold a hot water bottle and rest. 

  • in reply to Desmond79

    I can understand that Desmond, my sleep routine can be all over the place at times too :-(

  • I had a shutdown last night. Went to bed at 9:15 pm, woke up at 1:50 this morning, ran errands until 6 am, slept until 1:30 pm and stayed home today; other than one trip to the shop.