how do you stop meltdowns?

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When I was at my brother's house this weekend, at one point I was on the verge of a meltdown, I was pacing in circles in a corner, franticly rolling a drinking glass between my hands and staring at the floor, when they opened all the windows in the room and the cool brease hit me, i almost instantly felt much more calm, however i have NO idea why i felt so bad, or why the brease made me feel so much better.
So my question is: if you feel a meltdown coming on, what is the best method for YOU to diffuse it?

Isolate myself as quickly as I can, and have the meltdown in private (it's better to have it than to hold it in). When I'm in company I try to hold it in for as long as I can, and isolate myself as fast as possible without being rude.

but if you can' t isolate yourself, what then? when i have had meltdowns in public before, i have used various experiences from my youth as excuses, even though i never think about these things anymore.

I don't/can't. I blow up, and anyone who's around me has to deal with it - after all, they most likely caused it.

Depends on how far along and how easy it is to get out of the situation.. Sometimes can't do much, although as-needed antianxiety meds can help a bit..
As can lollipops... like the big kind that you can't chew.. can act kinda like a pacifier, without seeming weird.. so like if I can isolate myself just a bit and suck on a lollipop for awhile, it helps some.
Or run to the bathroom and cry.. but once I start crying, it takes so long.

But a klonopin and a lollipop can kinda ward it off for awhile, anyways.. I won't be FUNCTIONAL.. but it LOOKS better.. especially if I don't want the people around to know what's going on.

I tend to avoid situations that would cause one or I leave the situation if I can when it's coming.

I stop what I'm doing and breathe in and out slowly. I started to count backwards from 100 but it's not really working. I think isolation is the best solution.
I think what's best is to go to a 'happy place' in your mind. Go back to a memory when you were the happiest you've ever been.
I don't know if it could work but it won't hurt to try.
You just need to go somewhere quiet to calm down.
I haven't had an explosive meltdown in awhile.

People in my household now know they have to leave me alone. Otherwise i cannot control myself and go from evidently no feeling to steam and scream in ten seconds.

THe other thing to do re: meltdowns is to try to lower the flight/fight response in us. As ASD people, this can often be overly pronounced. A programme of exercise, ipod music to cut down on the barrage of sensory stimuli, sunglasses and a low stress life are just a few of the keys to management. This may need to be augmented with some use of medications.

If you feel a meltdown coming on, leave and go and exercise. My specialist says to get out of the house and go for a brisk walk around the block, to diffuse the internal energy/emotion build up in me. It is simple it works.

Of course the bummer is that we are high maintenance people, and we often have to put more effort in to remain any near the edges of an even keel. This annoys me and I try to accept it.

First plan of action: avoid situation

Second on list: get out of situation, fast.

Third, if stuck in situation: breathe as calmly as possible ignoring everything and everyone around you, no matter what is happening.

Fourth: Oh dear, too late, everyone else need to avoid you, leave the situation and breathe deeply

I usually isolate myself to but if I am around people I explode so I usually isolate myself ASAP

Meltdown, something I haven't had for about 18 months but what I do now if I know I could have I would go to my room listen to my music and just stay absolutly calm if you do that you can control it. I do get anoid by people but usually they don't mean and I let it rest and calm myself down there and then.

I'm among those who have said that they avoid potentially irritating situations. I don't know how to reverse an upcoming meltdown, I simply explode. The positive thing about my story is that my tolerance level has risen significantly over the years.

Does anyone else look for something predictable, ie cars driving along the road? Usually my meltdowns happen when something unexpected has happened.