Verbal Shutdown, scribal loss, need advice

HI, 25 y/o. Diagnosed late. Usually hyperverbal but we have verbal shutdowns. Just want to ask if others are the same. Usually really articulate but struggling recently :( Got AAC app to help!! But feel scared to use it. Any advice? Feel like autism gets Worse for us. Was treated bad growing up and had autism denied. EVeryone expects me to be independent and act 'normal' but realising have higher support needs than originally realised. have PA that comes 3 times a week for fibro but realised autism disables me just as much and have been masking for so long didnt realise :( how to explain to ableist family members that need more support like AAC? 

Parents
  • Adding more context now. Been a few days of no or limited words. Had Maintainence guy come today. Had to answer door on own and couldn't talk. He was very nice. Have figured out an having autistic burnout, but talk to many autistic people and they don't seem to relate to sudden support needs going up. Feel like no longer low support needs and it scary.

Reply
  • Adding more context now. Been a few days of no or limited words. Had Maintainence guy come today. Had to answer door on own and couldn't talk. He was very nice. Have figured out an having autistic burnout, but talk to many autistic people and they don't seem to relate to sudden support needs going up. Feel like no longer low support needs and it scary.

Children
  • Autistic burnout can make everything a lot harder -things you could do and manage before can suddenly feel out of reach.  Especially if you've been masking as you describe. 

    If your not able to talk, can you write still on paper, or is it mainly using the AAC app? We have paper and pencils handy for when my daughter meltdowns and then can't talk. It's okay to have different communication needs.

    Try and relax about it, it is something that happens and you are not broken, just autistic. When my daughter gets this way, I know she just needs understanding and time, and she can write down things that she needs in the mean time.  It tends to be worse when she's tired, so doing something to relax helps, and she will most likely start talking again about her special interests when ready.

    Maybe write a letter to your family explaining what is happening, letting them know what will and what won't help? It is difficult if you don't have their support, as it sounds like you could do with it!