how do you explain a shutdown?

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how do you explain a shutdown to the average person?

It's difficult for me because I find that people tend to translate what I describe as a shutdown into terms they identify with, so what I say is generally irrelevant.

I would describe a shutdown like the ocean during a hurricane. Normal people's oceans are calm, obviously. Mine is windy, the surf is choppy, and its raining. That's my normal setting or how my senses view the world. My meltdowns or shutdowns are hurricanes.

Maybe they'll get it if you liken it to shock. The temporarily non-verbal issue and shutting out the world while you're 'away' is fairly similar despite them being different reason and different reaction, and despite the fact that for me at least, shutdowns come without the numbness of shock.

I think "shock" would be the easiest word for them to understand. You just explain to them you have a neurological disability and can be more easily overwhelmed and put into something like a state of shock than the average person, then add that it's called a shutdown.

Something like, "It's like opening too many programs on a computer. I get hit by too much at once, and my brain just kind of slows down and locks up. I have to get away and relax for a while to restart it."

I like this explanation and I think I will try it.

It's definitely difficult to convey this. Verdandi is right about people translating things into something they understand, that is, something they have experienced, and if they are NT they are unlikely to have experienced something like an autistic shutdown. So if you say "I am overwhelmed by X and X and X and can't cope with it" they might think about, say, how they sometimes feel overwhelmed by work and say "I totally understand", when what they are thinking of isn't in the same ballpark at all. So using more extreme terms like "going into shock" may help to communicate what you are trying to communicate.

The example of a computer crashing is a good one too, most people from the internet generation will understand that one.

I like that one too.

My brain has crashed.

My brain must use MS Windows, gotta reboot once in awhile. Wonder if I can upgrade to some Linux distro.....

I think the Neuronl distro is meant to do this, but there is a problem with the CNS drivers. There's currently no support for any sensory I/O, kinesthetics or other activity outside the kernel.





OK, that was a lame attempt at a joke, but I liked yours!

I got your joke -- took me a moment but I didn't think it was lame

I like this description. I usually say "my brain turns off" but I like this computer comparison better. It is a more accurate description.

I guess the best way to explain is slowly drifting into darkness and isolating myself from others for long periods of time leading into deep depression and lack of emotion and negative self thoughts! Other than that my brain just goes blank for a while and I do not wish to interact with anyone!

Well i guess it would be equal to a normal person not getting any sleep for say 3 days straight.

Then they would probably be like, when i get overloaded and brain just shutsdown and needs sleep to do even the most basic stuff.

It's a 'play dead' defense mechanism in response to overload.
If you stop responding to the outside world, then what is causing the overload may leave you alone.
Unfortunately, us aspies can be overloaded by sensory issues (e.g. too much noise and light) or having to process too much at once (including emotions and thoughts).
For example, I'm supposed to attend networking sessions and career's fairs at my University. I suffer shutdowns due to the noise and crowding. Also I shutdown in some study environments because of the other students socialising.
I hope this explanation and example is of use to you