Published on 12, July, 2020
Shutdowns are part of life. There are multiple root causes for a shutdown, including the result of sensory overload, physical and mental exhaustion, unexpected news, anxiety about an upcoming event, and upheaval in our schedule. Sometimes it comes in combination; other times it comes down to simply being “on” for so long, that we have no choice but to turn “off.”
Are you always aware that you are about to go into "shutdown"?
What strategies to you use to help recover from them?
How do you "resurface"
How do you describe what they are to others and try to manage their occurrence?
I wish I could always have a healthy approach to them. I don't have a bath, unfortunately - but a swim or a run often helps. Especially a swim. Can only really do that in summer, though. I'm lucky enough to live just 200 yards from the sea, and it's a gentle enough coastline with no deep troughs or rip-tides. At the moment, with high tides being about the right times each day, I'm managing morning and evening swims. The water's generally quite warm, too - though most people would probably say it's 'freeeeezing!' To me, it's the most wonderful thing to be in the water swimming along, then to just stop and turn over to float, looking up at the sky. This morning it was raining, too - lovely, gentle, warm rain. Passers-by must've thought I was nuts. Well... so I am! The water's usually fine from May until September. In the winter - just when I need it most, really - I have to leave it. I can't handle public baths. Chemicals. Noise. And people, of course.
Other times, I try to manage it with writing in some way - if I have the mental capacity for it. Other than that... it's, I'm afraid, alcohol. And then sleep. I have a complicated relationship with alcohol. I know it's a depressant. I know it isn't good for me physically. But actually, sometimes, I can drink myself to a stupor... and then awake feeling 'fixed' in some way. It's like it's fused my circuit board, and the switches have all been reset. I've never tried other drugs (okay, dope once... but it just made me laugh too much!), but I often wonder about some of the hallucinogenics. Knowing my luck, I'd be a bad trip personality. But I have friends who say it's been like mentally wiping the slate clean and refreshing it. That would be nice. I don't know so much about 'expansion of consciousness' - but then, I've never tried, so I wouldn't.
Recovery? I don't know. It's just like a mood swing. It eventually moves on. Until the next one.
You can't kidnap me, by the way. The cat would starve!
We'll have to kidnap Daisy as well! She'd like my Bengal! I also have Dreamies! So talk it through with her.
Chances of expansive space are key whether it is an open sea, or an open landscape. For me, spending a week either behind a computer screen or in a classroom .... liberating space is crucial..but I don't get a chance to get out as much as I'd like!
I to self medicate/ soothe with alcohol...namely to try to enforce relaxation and turn the volume knob of the brain down! With no one at home to de-stress after the day...a glass or two of wine, some headphones music to bring on positive vibes or to chill is a daily routine....
like you, I am aware that this has (a) negative effects and (b) is not sustainable
Pity about that! I too don't like public baths for the same reason but open air ones are ok if you are near one. The sea swims sound cathartic, I've read that before. I am more or less tee total for the same reasons you drink really. I don't like the feeling of alcohol and fear of it being another addiction but the occasional half or glass is fine. Space yes that does it for me , space at the coast or on the hills.. or woodland or by rivers. Or engrossed in a film or two or book if I can concentrate. I'm a dog girl rather than cats but my guinea pig has to surfice and is very cute.
recombinantsocks said:Of course if you put two or more Aspie's together then you wouldn't have peaceful isolation but that is another problem altogether.
Interesting.
can you explain.
It is alleged https://www.quora.com/Are-INTPs-impractical-in-general-or-just-when-it-comes-to-knowledge that Einstein was of the Myers Briggs type INTP i.e. approximately Asperger and that his ideal job would have been lighthouse keeper...
Of course if you put two or more Aspie's together then you wouldn't have peaceful isolation but that is another problem altogether.
And island full of islands...do people get voted off - lol
just like Lord of the Flies! Whose Piggy! Lol
Channel 4 funding awaits...
Yes the price is incredible when you compare it like that. I bet a crowdfunding would be wacky enough to work lots of people wanting more space . Distracting yourself property hunting! I do that but hadn't thought of island hunting
Sooooo tempting.....MartianTom, how much is your kidney worth...I have a thing about lighthouses btw
A whole island, though, for less than the price of a London flat...
Think we might need a bigger one! But heartwarming idea..
Crowdfund idea? Autopia?
Little Ross Island and Lighthouse, Dumfries and Galloway
Yes they lift mine too but it's being outweighed at the moment . I love the space and atmosphere, shapes, colours, plants, sheep etc of the moors and dales too but still finding new places. We had a lovely holiday on the west lakes and I never knew shropshire had hills! Or that Norfolk had red cliffs. Or that there were beaches just made of cobbles and no sand. I want to do the Scotland 500 and the Shetlands.
Read locked threads ...
Lost you're thread...but here you are found!
Never done the Yorkshire Moors but would love to! All those dark santanic mills etc - lol. Done a little of Cumbria.... would be quite happy out in the elements...would much rather deal with Mother Nature than most people.
you are a valued asset here..your presence is valued and you lift my day...so does Spotty, DeepThought, Martian Tom, Quirky Friend etc.
we live and need you and your g.pig here x
read again DeepThoughts reply if you need validation,....print it off, memorise it!
Glad you had a good swim . Night Tom
Lovely swim! No one down there. Water warm. Okay... shutting down now. 'Night all x
Elephant did you look at other threads today?
Hope the tide is high enough to meet puddle height. Take care..,as always, good to hear from you x
Take care too. The sea sounds wonderful
I'm shutting down for the day now. Been writing about my childhood through conversations I had with mum while I was with her. Stirs up stuff to think what she had to go through. I can only do so much at a time with it. So... shut down and watch a film.
High tide's at nine tonight... but it may be high enough for a dip. Think I'll go look first. Cleanse it away.
Take care, all x
I love having a bath too , I do have a bath it's just this particular one I can't get in and out of. My showers not bad but I miss having a soak I love the moors too( Yorkshire Northumberland and Cumbria) Elephant That's really good. It's that kind of moment which makes teaching special. Hope the meet up is fine. I've had some really crappy things happen today and still carry on on here upsetting. Not sure I'm staying I have to validate myself everywhere else I didn't realise I had to here too think I'm booted off.
My 3 things
Deepthought, Tom and you and I helped someone I think Thank you very very much
The sun shone in the end
I helped my Dad tidy up pruning and took it to the skip.