Anything that helps you while having a meltdown?

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Gbgeorgia1
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06 Jun 2018, 1:49 pm

I don’t know what to do that helps, do you have something that distracts you takes your mind off things etc ? :?
I go by myself and just need time in my room, but sometimes I can feel unsettled for a long time after sort of worn out.



Last edited by Gbgeorgia1 on 06 Jun 2018, 2:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.

EzraS
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06 Jun 2018, 1:59 pm

Describe what you mean by meltdown. When I have a traditional autistic meltdown my mind is out to lunch, I want no input whatsoever and need to be left alone unless I need to be restrained.



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06 Jun 2018, 2:00 pm

Talking to someone, having reassurance, and having hugs always helps me during a meltdown.

But I am aware that most Aspies avoid interaction and being touched during a meltdown, so I don't know what else to suggest. Perhaps distracting yourself with your special interest if you have one. If you don't have one, maybe stimming might help. If you don't stim, maybe a comfort item might help.


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Gbgeorgia1
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06 Jun 2018, 2:16 pm

EzraS wrote:
Describe what you mean by meltdown. When I have a traditional autistic meltdown my mind is out to lunch, I want no input whatsoever and need to be left alone unless I need to be restrained.

All these feelings come at once and can be very distressful, I feel the need to scream and don’t have the patience for anything and feel as if there is nothing I enjoy and everything is too much.
I do actually feel better if I rock back and forth but my chest feels like it’s sinking after all that’s gone on.



EzraS
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06 Jun 2018, 2:26 pm

Gbgeorgia1 wrote:
EzraS wrote:
Describe what you mean by meltdown. When I have a traditional autistic meltdown my mind is out to lunch, I want no input whatsoever and need to be left alone unless I need to be restrained.

All these feelings come at once and can be very distressful, I feel the need to scream and don’t have the patience for anything and feel as if there is nothing I enjoy and everything is too much.
I do actually feel better if I rock back and forth but my chest feels like it’s sinking.


Not trying to be nit picky with terms but that's more of an overload (overwhelmed). Overloads aren't fun. For those drinking cold water, rocking, deep breathing helps me.

A meltdown resembles a totally out of control tantrum. But other than the resemblance it's a totally different thing.



Gbgeorgia1
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06 Jun 2018, 2:41 pm

EzraS wrote:
Gbgeorgia1 wrote:
EzraS wrote:
Describe what you mean by meltdown. When I have a traditional autistic meltdown my mind is out to lunch, I want no input whatsoever and need to be left alone unless I need to be restrained.

All these feelings come at once and can be very distressful, I feel the need to scream and don’t have the patience for anything and feel as if there is nothing I enjoy and everything is too much.
I do actually feel better if I rock back and forth but my chest feels like it’s sinking.


Not trying to be nit picky with terms but that's more of an overload (overwhelmed). Overloads aren't fun. For those drinking cold water, rocking, deep breathing helps me.

A meltdown resembles a totally out of control tantrum. But other than the resemblance it's a totally different thing.


Well I had A meltdown then as what’s called an overload shortly after sometimes a meltdown causes an overload.



Gbgeorgia1
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06 Jun 2018, 2:48 pm

Gbgeorgia1 wrote:
EzraS wrote:
Gbgeorgia1 wrote:
EzraS wrote:
Describe what you mean by meltdown. When I have a traditional autistic meltdown my mind is out to lunch, I want no input whatsoever and need to be left alone unless I need to be restrained.

All these feelings come at once and can be very distressful, I feel the need to scream and don’t have the patience for anything and feel as if there is nothing I enjoy and everything is too much.
I do actually feel better if I rock back and forth but my chest feels like it’s sinking.


Not trying to be nit picky with terms but that's more of an overload (overwhelmed). Overloads aren't fun. For those drinking cold water, rocking, deep breathing helps me.

A meltdown resembles a totally out of control tantrum. But other than the resemblance it's a totally different thing.


As an anxiety sufferer too, a meltdown causes an overload after all the impulses of wanting to shout and lash out, sometimes in public if I mess up or feel really out of place that’s when I want to have a adult tantrum as family have called it, it can vary for everybody. :)

Well I had A meltdown then as what’s called an overload shortly after sometimes a meltdown causes an overload.



NorwichGeorge
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06 Jun 2018, 3:01 pm

For anxiety overloads I do the following: First I head to my room, lay on the bed and cry. Cry until I can't cry anymore. It's really therapeutic. Just let every bottled up emotion out. Then if I'm still feeling unsettled I write about what I'm feeling. I always write them as letters to my inner self and I do this if I feel anxious during the day as well before I've got to an overload and it's good at preventing them if I can feel one building. If I'm still not right, then I go for a walk for an hour or so. Usually that will have got the last of it out of my system and allow me to think rationally again.



Sandpiper
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06 Jun 2018, 4:44 pm

I just need to be left alone to scream and throw things until I can't scream and throw things any more. Then I'll be OK albeit rather tired. No input needed from anyone else.


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PearlsofWisdom
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06 Jun 2018, 5:11 pm

Gbgeorgia1 wrote:
I don’t know what to do that helps, do you have something that distracts you takes your mind off things etc ? :?
I go by myself and just need time in my room, but sometimes I can feel unsettled for a long time after sort of worn out.


Sometimes it is best to take time out and just chill during a meltdown. Like what some people have said might help and even distracting or just distancing yourself from the persons or situation that has become unpleasant should make you feel better. If only slightly.



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06 Jun 2018, 7:14 pm

Nothing but staying away from any people helps me. I usually go to bed and put my noise-cancelling headphones on to at least somehow isolate myself from the outside world. Then i'd turn on an album or one of the movies from my childhood and tried to focus on this until i somewhat calm down. I try to extract one positive memory from either movies or music to calm me back down again.

Everything else possibly won't work during that time, because, as Ezra said, the mind is out to lunch.


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06 Jun 2018, 7:50 pm

For me, overloads cause meltdowns, not the other way around. What helps me with meltdowns is just to let it run its course. That is all I can do. When I have overload, I try to reduce as much sensory stimuli as possible and deep pressure helps like a really good bear hug.


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