Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi
My 23 yo autistic daughter is normally copiously verbal. She has had some shutdowns before where she has been nonverbal, struggled to respond with gestures and been in bed. These have lasted a couple of days.
She's now been nonverbal for 6 days, and not responding with gestures. To either me or my son. She is getting up and getting herself food, consciously avoiding us being in the same room.
I don't know how to help her. All the advice seems to say wait it out, but also that these would last a few hours to a day or so. This is now a week. I called the local mental health crisis team last night who came out, but my daughter locked her bedroom door - a clear no and the most communication I've had all week.
Any suggestions on what to do, or where I can get help? Really worried that she's obviously in some significant distress.
Thanks in advance,
Rachel
give her a slate board with chalk, or a legal pad and pen or some other equivalent, and ask her to help you understand what she is going through, without implying anything has to be wrong. Put it near her in her room - and wait for her to come to you.
She is processing something that is taking all her CPU to figure out. Something may have happened that she does not how to communicate or has grown distrustful of confiding for some reason. She needs to feel safe and heard to speak without judgement.