Interacting when on verge of a meltdown

This is a good (and amusing) article explaining what is happening during a meltdown.

https://autismunderstood.co.uk/struggling-as-an-autistic-person/introduction-to-the-limbic-system-panic-monkey-and-dino-brain/

The people that are trying to interact with you are wasting their efforts, as your brain isn't able to function to receive and process that input. What they're doing is risking making the situation much worse.

Hey  

Thx for posting that article it's really interesting to read and V funny I love the cute cartoony pics  

Autonomistic said:

The people that are trying to interact with you are wasting their efforts, as your brain isn't able to function to receive and process that input. What they're doing is risking making the situation much worse.

This is the problem I have. I'm trying to focus on how I'm feeling and keep a lid on the meltdown B cause I don't want to make an exhibition of myself

But same time I'm trying to listen and process what's being said to me. I've told people it doesn't help but no one listens to me ever.

Prevention is the best strategy when it comes to meltdowns. 

If you feel yourself heading towards one try to remove yourself from the situation and reduce sensory input as far as possible. 

For example you could go into another room, leave the class if you can, put some ear defenders on as a clear signal that you're not in a position to be able to listen. If anyone tries to tell you that doing any of those things is misbehaving then they don't understand autism or meltdowns.

Prevention is the best strategy when it comes to meltdowns. 

If you feel yourself heading towards one try to remove yourself from the situation and reduce sensory input as far as possible. 

For example you could go into another room, leave the class if you can, put some ear defenders on as a clear signal that you're not in a position to be able to listen. If anyone tries to tell you that doing any of those things is misbehaving then they don't understand autism or meltdowns.

Lololol  thx that's a great thing to picture and I'm not sure I'll be able to look at Mrs Chip without laughing from now on.

I laughed at the person you used to work with. A chip on both shoulders lol  it's funny how our brains picture these things isn't it lol. I have a great imagination so I am able to really see this in my minds eye

Sadly meltdowns are a common thing for so many with autism. I own a lot of books on asd, I bought them when I was waiting to be diagnosed and they helped me a lot then and I still look back at them now

I've read in many of them about meltdowns but then when I think about how much we all process and how much stress we have to endure it's not really surprising we get meltdowns 

Sadly not everyone will be understanding. Try to imagine Mrs Chip with a huge chip on her shoulder and what she says might bother you less. That reminds me of someone I used to work with. I heard it said that he was a perfectly balanced individual, he had a chip on both shoulders

Recognising the signs can be hard due to autistic interoceptive differences and alexithymia. It sounds as if you are doing well in learning to recognise what helps and some preventative methods.

I do still get meltdowns. I wish I didn't but life circumstances means that triggers can't always be avoided. 

I've been working on preventative methods for meltdowns and I've got some good ones like wearing ear defenders or putting in my ear pods so I can listen to music which can have a calming effect

At school it's harder because it depends on what teacher I've got. My art teacher is really understanding but my maths teacher Chip "Mrs McCain" everyone calls her Chip but she's not understanding at all. She says I use "excuses" and I have a lot of growing up to do

At home there a lot easier to handle if I've had a meltdown. Shutdowns are easier at home as well.

I'm not good at recognising the signs tho it's something I'm trying to work on so I can prevent them from even happening.

Do you get them much?

Thx for your help with this

I really appreciate it  it's helpful hearing from others on these things as I don't know anyone else with autism