Overloads, meltdowns, and shutdowns: part of the disability?

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hi, just recently, i learned we do not have to move to Edmonton, but my dad is still leaving for work, so hell be back every 10 days and stay for 10 days. however, this does mean i have to start taking care of myself.

my sister will be staying with me, thats... not exacly a good thing because shes not the best NT, she has BLPD, so this makes her Impulsive, Manipulative and explosive.

just today i went on a shopping trip with her and shut down right when we got home. i really couldnt handle it, i have two types of shut downs, Shut down 1, which is basically a sensory overload where if there is too much to process or too much lights and noise i physically shut down and it can be hard to process anything going on, and Shut Down 2, where i mentally shut down, because there is too much on my mind or i have too much stress in one day, and i become withdrawn, depressed, and tired.

so, does this go hand in hand with the Disability? should i receive Help for this or should i just suck it up? people say 'just take baby steps' but its so vague, i dont know what i can and cant handle, what do i do?!

Yeah, overloads, meltdowns and shutdowns are all part of the merry life of the aspie, but as it's a spectrum disorder we get affected in different ways and in different amounts. Me? I can't remember the last time I had a meltdown but the overloads and shutdowns mean that once in a while I shut off the world until it goes away.

Change is often very difficult and it looks as though it is being thrust upon you.

Do you have a formal diagnosis or any support available to you through social services?

If your sister is indeed a person with BLPD (I am assuming this means Borderline Personality Disorder) then you might be able to get some needed help in coping with living with her...Have you considered living elsewhere or is there anyone else who is more stable who could live with you? The last thing that family services needs or wants is for you to be in a situation where your own health deteriorates...and having repeated melt downs, shut downs and etc - while common to people on the spectrum...they are not healthy or helpful.

Most of us learn to cope with and even to control the situations we are in in order to avoid having serious shutdown/meltdowns...You are still pretty young and you can and should get specific directions in getting through the social maze of life - if taking 'baby steps' is not a social term that makes any sense to you - let people know you need more detailed support.

And having to live with an unstable relative is also not something you should be asked to deal with...most people won't put up with it. NT AS or whatever letters you want to assign.

I hear that it is, yes. I'm not formally diagnosed but I think I may be. And I can meltdown with stress very easily. And if the initial stress was not dealt with properly or there was extra stress whilst I was calming from the initial, than it gets worse and worse until my thoughts take over and I can't cope.

I honeslty don't know how to help that kind of thing or give advice for it but I do think support is extremely important.

I don't know if this would work with your sister, but when people are moody or agitated, trying to respond very calmly helps me stay calmer and often calms them as well.

For me, social confusion including explosive and manipulative behavior by others causes a lot of stress, it sounds like you may be reacting to that too.

If you think it's sensory overload you could try earplugs, sometimes my daughter uses those in loud stores. Or going at a quieter time.

But meltdowns can stem from social confusion that becomes too much, certainly, yes. I think the help you could get would be coaching from a professional like a therapist how you could respond, or understanding the signs someone else is melting down so you get away, that kind of thing.

It is hard though spending a lot of time with a difficult person. I hope it's not too long you'll be with her, Zombiegirl!