How common is overload/meltdowns among aspies?

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I don't really have meltdowns. Sometimes I get really upset about things that I feel are unjust, like people breaking traffic laws in unfair ways or companies being invasive with my personal information. Then I get mad and sometimes I yell at people, but it's not really a meltdown.

I get overloaded a lot though, like almost every time I go shopping. Something about malls and grocery stores is just too much for me, and by the time I get to the cashier I'm almost non-verbal. I'm a homemaker though, so I spend a lot of time at stores. I manage to get through it just by having a script I follow. "Hello, thank you, debit, have a nice day."

I get confused and a bit agitated if something off-script happens, like if the cashier asks me an unusual question. Then I either ignore it (and they probably think I'm crazy) or power through it. Powering through it feels like... bootstrapping. Like it's 2:30 in the morning and I was in a deep sleep and some emergency happens that absolutely can't be ignored, like the basement is flooding. I'm semi-conscious, but with a great big grunt and heave, I force myself to handle it. It's really uncomfortable and when I get home I usually sink into a chair and stare at the wall for a couple of hours while my brain resets.

I like shopping with my husband because he handles the cashier for me. Sometimes they ask me direct questions while I'm zoned out and he just steps in and answers for me. Sometimes I hear him say, "She's fine. How are you?" and I didn't even know someone was talking to me, but I just keep staring at the candy bars and tabloids.

So... I don't really have meltdowns but overstimulation shutdowns are a huge problem for me.

My understanding is that meltdowns are a lot more common among autistic children and autistic people who have mental disabilities.

This is weird, I had come here intending to start a thread about my Melt-down last night & find all these others.
Ok, back to subject, as I have gotten older the rate they occur has dropped off sharply. This is a good thing! When I was a kid, I could get quite violent, even picking up desks & throwing them. Also, once or twice, some kid who was bullying me.. As I now stand 5'11 & weight just under 150 it would be VERY dangerous for all concerned. However, I just found out that if I am over-stimulated, I still can get over-load melt-downs. No bullying or anything, just too many responsibilites & demands snowballed on me. Sensory overload, emotional overload plus one final event that really HURT.
God, I hope I am still employed. I think a shut-down would have been better. Maybe not, I'd probably be going for a drug test.

Sincerely,
Matthew

I had no time to do it! I was trying to juggle two customers from 8-9 NON-STOP. I had no chance to say " I need a break or a quiet moment, at least."
Anyone here would have seen the warning signs.
The customer incident actually happened a minute or so before I actually melted-down. She would not have been offended, she would have been frightened.

Matthew