Public Meltdowns and How to Deal with Them?

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Last weekend I was hidden away in my dorm room (which has become somewhat of a sensory haven for me) when some idiot on the floor below me set off the fire alarm. This was the first time at college that I have experienced their fire alarm. It wasn't too loud from the confines of my room and though I was not coping well, I was still coherent enough to know I had to get out of the building. I managed to make it down my hall, but when I opened the door to the commons I was hit with a concussive sound wave of the alarm and about fifty other students headed for the front door.

I don't really remember what happened after that except that I lost it. Usually I have shutdowns, but that day I had one of my rare meltdowns. I was told that I grabbed at my ears, fell back against a wall, started rocking, and chanted "no!" over and over. My roommate managed to help me get out, but a good number of people had already seen me lose it.

Now I don't know what to do. Several people I know have come up to me and asked me if I'm okay over the past few days. The ones I don't know are giving me weird looks from time to time like I'm going to snap and become homicidal. There are only about ten people on campus (barring my professors) that I have told about having AS. Any advice on how to deal with this?

You could maybe say you have very sharp hearing and the fire alarm hurt your ears to the point where the pain overwhelmed you? It's not exactly the truth, but it's as close to the truth as casual acquaintances need to know and it explains it in a way that you don't come off as deranged.

I had something similar happen to me a couple of months ago, only instead of losing it in the hallway I took off running up the street to get away from the noise. I would recommend what OnPorpoise suggested and just tell people that you have sensitive hearing and that sounds like the fire alarm really bother you.

When ppl weird-look at you, you could just stare back and start twitching an eyelid at them until they get nervous, then stop and giggle humorously.
As if they're the ones being weird for thinking that something "that simple" meant you were weird.

Be happy about the ones that asked if you were alright, that means they pleasantly disposed toward you.
It breaks the ice and they aren't afraid to become your friends.
They'll probably even defend you to others if it happens again.

I carry a Medic Alert card that discusses this issue in case of police or security harassment. Other than that, people are gonna have to get used to living around people with disabilities. There is usually a disability center in schools and you need to get to them and advocate right away because people that think you are 'weird' can organize to have you thrown out which is highly illegal / against ADA.

That happened to a friend of mine. You can get accommodations such as single rooms as well as buildings that have fewer of those alarms. But there are resources - and also try to find other people on the spectrum that you can talk to about this situation.

The medic alert bracelet is a very good idea. You can order them online or get them at any local pharmacy. I wear a ROAD ID. I love that because it has a pin number that any first responder can put in and get any emergency contacts or any medical I choose to put in there. I have my blood type and last tetanus shot and any allergies and emergency contacts in there as well as the fact that I am an Aspie so that if I am ever found unconscious or incoherent I can be helped. But wearing a bracelet like that is good because it shows people that you actually have a a real issue and that you are not just weird. I usually only wear mine when I am biking or skiing or playing disc golf or kayaking or horseback riding or rollerblading (this list is getting kind of ridiculously long LOL!!:D) but especially if I am doing those things alone. But if people see that they won't think you are weird. And most important, don't be embarrassed. That is easier said than done but I don't think most people are going to dislike you for that.

So what does a medic alert bracelet say? Simply that you have Asperger's or does it go into detail about sensory problems and say something like "If you find me rocking, it's because I have Asperger's."

I like OnPorpoise's idea, too.

First off, thanks for all of the replies! I have been in contact with my school's disability activists since I found out I have AS. The college is small and very encouraging towards those on the autism spectrum, in both academics and resident life. However, that doesn't help what other people think of you.

Good for you Christina! The whole thing about other people thinking there's 'a problem', now is your only concern and the way to deal with that in my opinion, is if someone asks you, how about sending them an article on AS? I understand it is challenging to make friends and be the new person there, but think of it as a chance to educate people. But only if they ask you.

Otherwise they're the ones who are being intolerant and stuff. It's rough, and ableism is like homophobia or racism, a crappy part of society. One thing that helps me with dealing with stress and stuff like that is weighted blankets. See if you could get one of those to have a 'calm down hour' every day or every other day to press the stress out of your life.

Also another thing I've found is, find out if there's a disability meeting on campus and maybe hang out with folks there. And hang out with people in your major. If people 'look at you like you're going to snap', and the school knows about your autism then you are legally immune to them 'reporting you' and stuff like that. They are the ones who are being intolerant. Your friends are the ones who have your back. HTH.

I don't have any suggestions as far as what to do about what happened to you as a result of your breakdown but I was thinking that having earplugs around might come in handy in case that alarm goes off again.