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thebelgradebelief
Blue Jay
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29 Jul 2017, 8:49 pm

I don't think I've ever gotten a meltdown in my life. I have always been a quiet person, and even as a baby/toddler my parents said I rarely threw tantrums or cried. I do think I've experienced shutdowns though, as I tend to become distant and nonverbal/semiverbal when stressed or overwhelmed. I haven't met or seen many autistic people who haven't experienced meltdowns at some point in their life (maybe this is a sweeping generalization on my part), so is this normal? Or have I not been pushed far enough to experience this?


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Sameen
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30 Jul 2017, 12:27 pm

I've never had a meltdown either as far as I can remember. I can get enraged
over small things and my brain freezes sometimes, though not so much these
days. I've also suffered anxiety and panic attacks at times.

A meltdown as a child wouldn't have been tolerated in my family, I would have
got a slap across the face. Maybe I knew that and just internalised everything
or maybe it's just not me. I really don't know.



EverythingAndNothing
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30 Jul 2017, 12:46 pm

I have also never had a traditional meltdown. My response to extreme stress is to shut down and become completely unable to speak. As the person above said, my family would not have tolerated a meltdown and so I attribute that as the reason that I go in the opposite direction. I can't even remember a time in my life when I've screamed at anyone. I have, however, had major issues with self destructive behaviors throughout my life and so, in a way, I think these may actually be my meltdowns. Since I was taught not to externalize anything, I internalize it all until I completely crack and self destruct. Not desirable by any means.



thebelgradebelief
Blue Jay
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30 Jul 2017, 9:05 pm

Sameen wrote:
I've never had a meltdown either as far as I can remember. I can get enraged
over small things and my brain freezes sometimes, though not so much these
days. I've also suffered anxiety and panic attacks at times.

A meltdown as a child wouldn't have been tolerated in my family, I would have
got a slap across the face. Maybe I knew that and just internalised everything
or maybe it's just not me. I really don't know.


I can definitely relate to the expectations from parents. I was thinking that might've been the reason why I didn't have meltdowns but I wasn't sure if others had felt that way. Thanks for your reply!


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ZombieBrideXD
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30 Jul 2017, 11:38 pm

not everyone with ASD will meltdown. i know a couple who never meltdown.

i do, pretty often. being anywhere out of my comfort zone will cause a meltdown, not instantly but eventually.


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wrongcitizen
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30 Jul 2017, 11:41 pm

The shutdowns are probably the meltdowns. Like NT's we experience emotions and anger but depending on your personality you'll express them in different ways. And by "express" I mean, vent them out or deal with them. I explode with anger as it all spills out at once like a giant vomit, and splatters everywhere forever staining my space. But then other times or when I'm in public, or under extreme amounts of pressure, I have to desperately find ways to filter out the anger using a specific thought or something.



whatamievendoing
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31 Jul 2017, 7:40 am

I'm not entirely sure as to whether I've ever had a meltdown or not, but I know I didn't have meltdowns as a kid. If I've ever had meltdowns, they've "come with age" in a way. I can go from 0 to 60 faster than a Ferrari if something angers me.


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EzraS
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31 Jul 2017, 10:23 am

I don't think the traditional meltdown is necessarily all that common with high functioning autism.



kraftiekortie
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31 Jul 2017, 10:24 am

I have them sometimes, even now.

I've had cops on the subway ask me if I'm "all right." I snap out of it right away LOL

I'd lose my job if I got arrested.



mikeman7918
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31 Jul 2017, 11:00 am

I was wondering this too actually. Similar to the above posters my parents said that I didn't cry a lot or have many tantrums as a kid. If I get overwhelmed then I often get anxiety attacks and shutdowns but never meltdowns.


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kraftiekortie
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31 Jul 2017, 11:01 am

I was a big-time tantrum-thrower.