Coping with intense negative emotions

i do too, im not diagnosed yet, so someone else can better answer if an autistic trait.

but yeah, i kinda get multiple thoughts at once, all competing and dragging me one way to another, so when i do that, it kind of, lets me "pick and choose" more.

Thank you! She's called Betty 

Thank you, I've been trying to put together a list of happy things that make me feel good so I can refer to this when I'm in a meltdown and can't maybe remember those things. I'll probably also give the list to my partner so she can refer to it for me if I can't manage that! Thank you so much, it's hard not to beat yourself up I think but it isn't my fault it's just how my brain is wired and I have to give it the time to recover

Thank you for the reassurance. I do tend to close off after a meltdown, once the tears eventually subside. It can be really difficult to take that time though, for example today the meltdown happened while I was working (from home thankfully!) and I've been really struggling with executive dysfunction all day now and haven't been able to focus on work at all as I'm still exhausted from this morning's meltdown. I'm just thinking of when I finish work for the weekend and can crash and recover properly! I'm sure working through it will make it worse in the long run, but sometimes you just can't avoid it. 

Thank you, typing it out is actually a really good tip as when I'm in the midst of a meltdown I find it quite heard to hear my internal voice. I don't know if this is an autistic thing but it's definitely something I experience!

I love your cat pic by the way. So cute ️

Hi Emily, I'm sorry you're feeling this way. It's never nice and I am so sorry this has happened to you today.

My advice is that when you get feelings like this try to do something you enjoy and that will normally make you happy or laugh. When I get overwhelmed by my bad emotions I try to get positive and happy emotions working to beat out the bad stuff. It usually works well for me and I'm feeling a lot better before long.

Please take care of yourself and don't beat yourself up over this x

It's not nice and is one of the big downsides of being autistic. I hope that it passes soon.

I had a huge meltdown yesterday, with uncontrollable tears for several hours. Once the initial response has died down I tend to retreat somewhere quiet and try and absorb myself in one of my interests if possible. Meltdowns like that leave me exhausted and often with a headache or migraine. Thankfully I've calmed down overnight.

I try and avoid things that I know are likely to trigger me. Don't take that as advice, as avoidance isn't always the best strategy and it depends on the situation. Some triggers can be outside of our control and impossible to avoid.

One thing I would say is try not to intensify the negative emotions, by blaming yourself, for feeling and reacting that way. It is due to being autistic and not your fault. That's a hard habit to break sometimes, particularly if you have been diagnosed as an adult.

hello emily, me, i suppose by necessity, have to just do all i can to push them to the back of my mind by occupying myself however i can, try to catch my mind wandering and refocus it, otherwise a thought/emotion cycle will begin.

give myself advice by typing it out somewhere, my own sympathetic ear, my own advisor, my own support kind of thing.

its not ideal though, for major things it just means im not dealing with them, but minor bumps in life, i suppose its fine to do so with.

not the best advice, but the only advice i can give and not be a hypocrite about.