C2V wrote:
How do people come out of nonverbal states? Is it only stress that causes them?
I had the awkward experience of knowing I was freaking out and that isolating myself for too long can cause that, so wanting to go out and engage and get out of my own head so I don't disappear down my own rabbit hole, but I can't because I'm almost nonverbal and must look wrong or troubled as people keep asking me what's wrong.
For me, yes, because my senses are getting more and more overloaded without any time to isolate and calm down, or because of some event or series of events that is/are very emotionally stressful. Or both. I don't always feel my feelings right away--sometimes I just feel some vague sense of unease that I can't identify, and may have a delayed reaction. If I am hit with several stressful events, the emotions sort of build up in me without me feeling them. I feel pressure but not what the emotion is behind it. Is it anger? fear? sadness? confusion? physical illness? Then something finally triggers all the emotions to come out all at once--MELTDOWN! This will be usually a half hour or hour of uncontrollable crying/screaming until I wear myself out. It may lead to a Shutdown, where I become very withdrawn, numb, and mostly unaware of my surroundings. Often times I skip the Meltdown and go straight to Shutdown. I can't talk or even think of English words (or any other spoken language) when in Meltdown or Shutdown. I can only think in pictures. I can gesture like I'm playing charades, but that's about it. Writing is out, too, and typing. Not that I could anyway, my hands shake too much.
I get out of nonverbal states generally by calming down and getting my emotions under control. It often requires me going somewhere dark and quiet with little stimulation. Going to bed is best, wrapped up in a blanket, maybe taking a nap because I am totally worn out for hours.
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Diagnosed Bipolar II in 2012, Autism spectrum disorder (moderate) & ADHD in 2015.
08 Feb 2016, 5:15 pm
