Hi, my recently diagnosed 12 year old is now attending a specialist school due to being unable to attend mainstream any longer. She can still struggle to attend and comes home and doesn't talk for an hour, curls up on sofa with her weighted blanket and later will go to her room, close curtains, put sensory lights and music on. She does this when she has been stressed about school or has been overwhelmed when out which is happening more frequently. Maybe this coincides with the teenage years approaching too but not sure.
I don't know whether to use the term shutdown but I am calling it a shutdown when I try explaining it. It is worrying to see that she needs to do this but it's good that she knows what to do to help herself and I can understand and support her with it really well.
I would like others to share similar experiences please if you don't mind. Thank you.