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SAD and/ or Meltdown.

Valdez

Although not diagnosed, I have been through 6 months of assessments with the final step believed as Autism and my assessment to commence from August.

Many years ago I was diagnosed with SAD and it was my yearly GP contact for medication that raised the potential for a misdiagnosis.

I have read through a lot of information over the last six weeks but what I cannot get a satisfactory explanation for is, could my SAD actually be a Meltdown.

Have you been in a position where you were misdiagnosed?

The similarities are very close:

3 months duration (January-March for me).

Loss of interest in what I love (conflict with Autism and huge interest in subject).

Increased sleeping.

Confusion and inability to concentrate.

Always late (complete reversal of always early to avoid walking into a crowd)

This year I am attempting to sleep 6-8hrs/ night to see if I suffer this Winter. Normally Summer and Autumn are so frantic and I end up sleeping 4-6 hours bar Sunday where it is 10 hours.

It can be classed as research but it will be interesting if my additional rest now prevents the January-March 'crash'.

It is something that I can;t get an understanding on.

Thank you.

  • in reply to KJ1234

    I have not commenced the autism diagnosis... The first time it has ever been raised was 6 weeks ago. I am in my 50s.

  • hi idk you posted this the same for me i am still undergoing a diagnosis for autism and yeah . 

  • in reply to Autonomistic

    Thank you... I have a lightbox which seems to help me as does Fluoxetine (although that perhaps treats me over the condition if you know what I mean). I attempt to get out on an early afternoon but it is so much like running through treacle.

    The list is so similar to SAD which, from the NHS, are:

    • a persistent low mood
    • a loss of pleasure or interest in normal everyday activities
    • irritability
    • feelings of despair, guilt and worthlessness
    • feeling lethargic (lacking in energy) and sleepy during the day
    • sleeping for longer than normal and finding it hard to get up in the morning
    • craving carbohydrates and gaining weight
    • difficulty concentrating

    From your list and hopefully more for me rather than attempting a diagnosis ...

    • A growing lethargy (Demonstrated over years from fitbit info).
    • An increase in irritability (Yes - as per SAD)
    • An increase in anxiety (Yes - Linked to tiredness and guilt. Overly anxious anyway)
    • An increase in over-sensitivity to sensory information (Lights are worse but in Winter they exist more).
    • A dramatic decrease in sensitivity to sensory information (dont know)
    • Heightened Auditory processing disorder (Dont know)
    • A decrease in verbal language (Slur but linked to tiredness).
    • A decrease in text language (Terrible at texting anyhow and a generation where one message evry 3d is acceptable haha)
    • An increase in Shutdowns and heightened withdrawn state (Avoid house parties more)
    • An increase in the frequency and severity of Meltdowns (Dont believe so)
    • A diminished ability for the person to self-regulate their emotional state (Ties into SAD symptoms)
    • The slowing down of the thought processes (Yes but linked to tiredness)
    • Brain fog (as above)
    • Memory loss (as above)
    • A decrease in your ability to effectively communicate what you want
    • A decrease in motivation
    • An inability to generate momentum of body and of action
    • An increase of rigidity, narrowing of thinking
    • A feeling like your vision is tighter or narrower
    • Extreme forgetfulness (not exactly)
    • Extreme overwhelm (Not particularly)
    • A massive increase in guilt (yes as per SAD)
    • An increase in Executive Dysfunction
    • An increase in Demand Avoidance

    Thank you on the article... I will read when have time to digest  Slight smile

    My plan is to try and 'look after' myself as opposed to normal Summers and see if the Winter pattern remains.

  • in reply to Valdez

    Burnout would make more sense. However if it is something that happens every year I think that suggests that the SAD diagnosis is likely correct. Have you tried one of those artificial daylight lamps or taking vitamin D supplements in the winter?

    I just posted this link on another discussion https://theautisticadvocate.com/2018/05/an-autistic-burnout/ It's one of the best articles I've found on autistic burnout. Towards the end of the article it gives a list of the key symptoms, which I'll copy below:

    • A growing lethargy
    • An increase in irritability
    • An increase in anxiety
    • An increase in over-sensitivity to sensory information
    • A dramatic decrease in sensitivity to sensory information
    • Heightened Auditory processing disorder
    • A decrease in verbal language
    • A decrease in text language
    • An increase in Shutdowns and heightened withdrawn state
    • An increase in the frequency and severity of Meltdowns
    • A diminished ability for the person to self-regulate their emotional state
    • The slowing down of the thought processes
    • Brain fog
    • Memory loss 
    • A decrease in your ability to effectively communicate what you want 
    • A decrease in motivation
    • An inability to generate momentum of body and of action
    • An increase of rigidity, narrowing of thinking
    • A feeling like your vision is tighter or narrower
    • Extreme forgetfulness
    • Extreme overwhelm
    • A massive increase in guilt
    • An increase in Executive Dysfunction
    • An increase in Demand Avoidance
  • in reply to Autonomistic

    Thank you - I hope posters read this and change Meltdown to Burnout.

  • I think maybe you are getting the terminology mixed up. 

    A meltdown is a short lived thing, an explosion of emotions which normally has at least one trigger. I would say a few hours at the most, although the exhaustion afterwards can last a few days. There is an explanation here https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/behaviour/meltdowns/all-audiences