Gizalba wrote:
(...) From what I have read, an Aspie meltdown differs from normal NT behaviour of crying and screaming, in that the meltdown appears often more frequently and in circumstances where most 'normal' people would not have such an intense out-of-control reaction.
From the books on autistic meltdowns I have read, I gather it is a myth that adult Aspie's don't have such intense meltdowns as children. Yes it seems much more common in children with ASD, as an adult may have learnt to reduce the sensory and communication stressors that were triggering the meltdowns, by understanding themselves better or other people learning to understand them better etc. But I have read of many adults with Asperger's who still get intense meltdowns either every now and again, or some still quite regularly. I have also read that you may not hear about this happening to adults, because they find it embarrassing due to the fact they think, we think 'I am too old to be having such severe reactions that to the outside world can look like a kid's temper tantrum' so they will often not talk about it.
I agree. I bolded out the parts that I find especially true.
Usually I have meltdowns more frequently when the above stressors (sensory, communication, I'd include lack of self-worth too) are just too much for me.
During a meltdown I'd be swearing, hitting things, and crying between the more 'aggressive' phases. Not at all something I'd be proud of and telling everyone along the way. I'm a 40 y.o. old autistic male.
15 Mar 2014, 3:17 pm
