AS and anxiety/meltdowns

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I've had problems with extreme meltdowns as far as I can remember and was wondering what other people's experiences were. It's not that I'm anxious all the time or anything--in fact, I generally feel fine. Sometimes I get mildly anxious due to unpleasant social situations or too much noise or something else, but that generally passes quickly. The problem is that I completely lose control of myself in certain situations--generally, when my plans are disrupted. For instance, yesterday I went to the theater to see a musical with my boyfriend only to find that my tickets (which were a birthday present from my parents) didn't work because there had been some sort of mistake (or fraud) by the website from which they were purchased. This provoked the worst meltdown I've had in a long while, and my boyfriend (who is also AS, BTW) was shocked. I don't wish to recap my embarrassing behavior in detail, but suffice to say that my boyfriend was very worried that I might be taken to a mental institution while this situation was occurring. He said he didn't know my problems were that bad (though he has witnessed less intense meltdowns before), but that he wants to help me "get better."

My question is, how do I do this? I've seen two different psychiatrists in the past several months and am now trying a new medication (Zyprexa) after the previous medication (Oxazepam) didn't work for me. My new psychiatrist doesn't seem to think that these issues are really related to AS and even expressed doubts about my diagnosis, saying that I must be on the "high-functioning" end. But I'm not sure that my meltdowns are unrelated to AS, because inability to cope with changes in plan/routine is an AS trait. I don't want to be NT, but I do want to be able to cope with these sorts of situations better. Is there anyone else who is/was in a similar predicament? Did medication, or something else help? I would appreciate any suggestions or anecdotes about how to deal better with these kinds of situations when they arise.

I do have similar kinds of meltdowns....have never been on any medication that was AS related, so I don;t know what kind of medication would work..but it seems odd that one should need to be medicated for something that is incidental...as in..chronicly not happening all the time.

I have less meltdowns when i am taking lots of omega 3s...I will have more like flareups but they dissipate quickly....Also, I don't go out in public very often...which might be another reason I have not had a meltdown in a while

I have have had meltdowns due to sudden changes of plans....getting overwhealmed in public....feeling out of control of my surroundings...but the worst thing for me is negative confrontation...Hostile customers...bad interractions at the grocery store....etc....

I think I have really gotten better over the years. It has been quite some time since I have had a multiple day long crying jag over something seemingly trivial...(knock on wood)

The last day of the two months I went to public school I had a meltdown too. I just couldn't take any more of the ridicule and the set back of being in a special ed program. Without giving all the details, I was put in a mental hospital for two weeks.

I've had a meltdown at a job once regarding my thoughts toward lazy management in a dysfunctional work environment. The manager I was talking to had a meltdown too and I no longer had a job.

Can't really suggest any med's because they haven't done a thing for me at all. Just try to keep your cool and practice putting things into perspective.

Ironicly enough, I have just now been on the verge of one.
Some people unexpectedly brought a big dog to the venue...and I was possibly a little more reactionary than I shoulda been...and now sorta in the midst of a bad cycle....
It is sorta the start of a mini-potential meltdown....I am trying to work my way out of it as we speak..

I've found that dealing with my meltdowns is the same procedure as dealing with a panic attack. And I learned that from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. When you think about it, meltdowns and panic attacks are kind of similar? Anyway, you might not find somebody to help with meltdowns but there are a zillion therapists who do CBT for panic attacks.

There are a lot of things you can do on the spot to help yourself. The feelings would go forward anyway but with much less impact on you, and you'd have some control over the situation.

They'll teach you breathing, relaxing, visualization, lots of stuff, all of it good.

The very first thing is this: *notice* that you are having a meltdown. If you don't know it's a meltdown till it's over then you can't help yourself. So knowledge is power - it's like Rumpelstilskin - once you know its name, it loses power over you.

Good luck.

My meltdowns are mostly from frustration. If I'm trying to clear up some problem and keep hitting brick walls, I'll go off after seven or eight times. I can only stop them if I watch for frustrations and take a break when I hit the fourth or fifth one. Chocolate helps. Five or six deep breaths also help, both from the oxygen and the violent action of breathing hard.

Oh man, I just logged on here to post on a similar event I just went through.

Not to hijack your thread, but I just suffered the worst week (in terms of losing control over situtaions) I've ever had. We had to put our beloved first kitty down (he was only 7 years old) and this set off a wave of emotions I can't really get a grip on right now.

Anyway, in a related but different event tonight, I totally LOST IT just 2 hours ago. My wife didn't help matters and I lashed out verbally against her. She packed up her stuff and woke my daughter to leave. I finally convinced her to stay but I'm in the midst of the hardest time in my life (again, related but unrelated to the loss of our pet). It would take too long to explain the exact circumstances but it has to do with me not being in control over the situation in my own home that sets me off.

I'm really in a bad way right now. Prayers would definately help. Again, to the OP I'm sorry for hijacking but it made sense to just reply to your post since it was what I came on here to talk about too.

To answer your question, you're not the only one who has meltdown, I can assure you!

Please pray for me and my family.