Quite an intense shutdown.

You are very welcome. Give yourself as much time you need to recover from your shutdown.

Oakling said:

It is nice to be able to offload to others who entirely get it.

I am glad you feel this way too. This is one of the many great things about the autistic community- we are here to support each other. You don’t need to explain anything to anyone, you can just feel immediately understood.

I find keeping a diary slightly helps because when I look back, I can see difficult moments eventually pass. I always forget this concept during each difficult time however.

I'm so glad to hear that! It can take a while to recover but now the only way is back up  It can be hard to open up but you did it, well done!

Thank you for this reply. I’m starting to get there now- just needed some time. I can see sense in a lot of what you have said here- so thanks once again.

Change is definitely something that can set me off and the unpredictability of those around me today was just too much. It is nice to be able to offload to others who entirely get it.

I’m sorry to hear about this. I hope all is well and that you’re starting to move forwards positively.

I think you are right. Time is a good healer and allows a new perspective.

Thanks once again. Slowly getting there now. It was nice to be able to turn to this forum. Something I’ve not been able to do until recently.

Hello, I hope you feel ok now and are trying to recover from your shutdown. Shutdowns are really horrible to experience and can be very disorientating. From my own experience, I feel very exhausted afterwards.

You don’t need to apologise, you are just explaining how you feel. Your emotions are very valid.

 I know this might be difficult to recognise right now but a shutdown is a natural way for your autistic brain to respond to excessive stress in an environment that doesn’t suit your neurology. I recommend engaging in autistic self care - whatever that looks like for you.

Oakling said:

Just when I think I’m getting the hang of it, people seem to change and a new presentation of behaviour reveals itself in front of me that everyone else is seemingly okay with or able to adapt to and I’m the only one left scratching my head at it all

Please don’t compare yourself to other people, your autistic brain just processes information differently. Also people (particularly neurotypical people) can be quite unpredictable which is quite confusing for us as autistic people. Change is very anxiety inducing for us as autistic people because all we need is certainty.

 I hope this helps and I know how frustrating shutdowns can be but I hope you find comfort in sharing these stressful situations with us autistic people on this forum. You are not alone, your autistic brain is just trying to tell you are under too much stress.

I'm shutdown too. 

That incident when driving yesterday hit me for six. I didn't get to bed until half six this morning. And my room is a tip. 

It'll pass. Your brain is in primitive mode at the moment (feeling, emotion). Rational brain will come back online eventually.

I hate those after feelings, really difficult and upsetting to experience. All I can say is that you've nothing to be ashamed of. Be kind to yourself and I hope you'll be feeling a lot better soon xx

The world just sometimes feels like a very hectic and confusing place. Some days I can navigate it and others I cannot. I felt like writing this post would help a little, and I think it is, but I can’t seem to shake the feeling of shame I’m having at the moment. Perhaps in time it will pass. Thanks for your reply though- it’s good to know that I’m not alone in experiencing this.

Thank you for your understanding. The feeling lost afterwards part is something I’m experiencing right now. I always feel immensely ashamed of myself afterwards for some reason- which I am currently feeling.

It’s horrible when it happens, I find it’s as if everyone is shouting at you all at once. It is a sensory overload, we can’t filter out what’s not needed so we protect the brain by shutting down. Always better to talk about something than bottling it up otherwise we just beat ourselves up over it.

I get this a lot, so much change and it can lead to what you describe. Not a nice experience and leaves you feeling really lost after and feeling like you're not doing as well as you thought. Get this lots, especially since Covid. Nothing stays the same which is annoying. 

Don't apologise for talking about how you're feeling. Talking is good and we are here for you