Nonverbal when under stress/meltdown?

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I can have a huge problem even thinking straight, let alone talking, when I have a problem with anybody that requires me to challenge their behaviour. It's nothing like a meltdown, and I might not feel any physical stress, but it can be a really difficult thing to work out exactly what they're doing that I take exception to, what my rights are, and how to negotiate a solution. And I get so hyperfocussed on the unfathomable problem that my brain seems to lock up. I think I'd feel less brain-crap if I learned how to detach, but I guess my autism makes that very difficult too.

Yes, I get completely nonverbal during shutdowns. It usually lasts about a half hour. I wrote a lengthy post about it here, likening it to when endurance runners hit The Wall.

Absolutely. When I am stressed, I generally just don't talk or look at anybody and then I avoid a melt-down. If the stress continues, I have to walk away from the person who is causing the stress as I can't effectively fight back.