Can someone define a "meltdown"?

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I'm sur e Ive had them I just haven't met any AS people since I've been reading all the AS books. I read a lot of posts about them.

What happens when YOU have a meltdown?

Apparently, it just refers to a kind of disabling of parts of the brain that has several possible effects, but most people are in one of two groups.

The group I am in:
mental ability drops noticably to the affected person
speech may be more labored and less coherent
sensitivity may increase

The other group:
sensitivity increases
there is a loss of physical restraint
there may be more stimming
the person may act violent even if normally passive
They USUALLY have the same symptoms as the other group as well

BTW They are normally triggered by pushing someone to the brink.

Something quite unpleasant that I would think few of us would want to talk about.
as an adult I now know to avoid situations where one may occur and when one may be imminent I walk off somewhere quite and shut down but as a child they were a source of much hell.

It is a kind of cascade or avalanche the events are something like this:

1) When I am stressed I become more autistic
2) because I am autistic I become stressed; goto line 1


Very quickly ones senses are overwhelmed.


I don't think I have it quite right but I have had enough of thinking about this for the time being.

Last edited by iceb on 29 Jan 2008, 5:06 pm, edited 2 times in total.

I turn green, get a lot larger... have the strength to throw cars, rip through walls, break furniture in my bare hands... and am in the grip of a fury that shakes the very foundations of the world...

OK, not exactly like that, but that's what it feels like...

It's like your fight or flight reaction has gone into hyperdrive and floods your system with adrenaline to the point your normal strength is heightened. Everything seems to come into better focus and small sounds draw my attention.

I don't think I've ever, ever had a meltdown, nor ever witnessed one... the concept is a bit alien to me.


Here's another question... what's the best way for people around you to react? Would you prefer they back off and let it "take its course", or try to intervene/help in some way?

Last edited by xyzyxx on 27 Jan 2008, 11:40 am, edited 2 times in total.

Once, during a meltdown, my hands actually turned blue. It was scary. I didn't get larger, though, and only ripped through a door

The funny thing is that he might not be kidding!

spintrek,

Do you happen to have RH - blood? You might want to get your heart checked. There is a problem that may even be more common than autism where a hole between chambers in the heart doesn't close properly, and the blood becomes blue. Luckily, it isn't something an adult is likely to die from, but you might want to watch it. BTW it is more likely to happen with those that have RH - blood, and is basically a birth defect.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/patent ... le/DS00728

Actually that does happen to me.
I don't normally think to have meltdowns but that's how it feels when I feel burnt-out.

I'm not kidding, this actually happened. Actually, I wanted to open a thread about this and ask if if anyone has any idea what was that. It was really scary. It's a shame, but I'm not sure in my blood type. Anyway, thanks for the tip and info, I may go and see a doctor.

My meltdowns happen when things get completely out of control and I become confused and unable to react. I also get really angry and let go verbally and stride around as well. A meltdown scares my wife, and that knowledge actually adds to the meltdown. Sometimes I cry as well.

I hate them, and I try to do as much as I can to avoid them.

Yeah, I wasn't kidding either. Luckily, MOST people that find out about it as adults are OK. It DOES make the heart less efficient, etc... though.

As for not knowing your blood type? I didn't know it EITHER until I recently got some blood for an operation. I was SO sure I was O- because of how my life always seemed to be as some happy servant and schlemazel. I DID try to help about anyone I could, and usually end up doing everything myself, or having things redone, because it seems almost nobody does it right. Imagine my surprise when I found I was AB+! I can't give blood to everyone, but accept almost any blood!

I might have had one recently...does this qualify?

I started repeating the same phrases and sentences.
My voice became really monotonous.
I started running without really meaning.
I started chanting the word "f**k" repeatedly.
I sort of lost motor control - I felt like I was falling and I couldn't turn a doorknob right away.
I felt like I was in a dream, and I thought I was being chased.
When I managed to turn the doorknob, I stumbled into my room and fell down on the floor, crying loudly and uncontrollably for a minute.
After I got up my mind was in a fog and I could barely manage to say anything coherent (I'd just start answering most questions "Uhhhhhhh....")
I had a slight headache up through the next morning when I took some ibuprofen.

Last edited by DejaQ on 27 Jan 2008, 7:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.

When I was younger (teens, early-twenties) I had a few fits that were, I now realize, caused by not being able to express in words the emotions I was feeling. I don't have them anymore. Basically I behaved like a child throwing a tantrum. I don't know if these qualify as meltdowns, but that's the closest I've come.

I feel really really panicked. I usually can't help but cry. I start to scream/yell. My voice gets loud because I think no one is listening to me. I usually get the feeling that I need to curl up in a ball, cover up and push everyone away from me.

I usually end up crying alot and throwing crockery. Oh, and screaming. It really looks like I'm melting down to other people. I usually end up feeling like all of my nerves are on top of my skin, too. It feels like everything that everyone does is going to make me cry. I can't stand to be touched. I can't stand to be talked to. I usually end up listening to one song over and over until it doesn't mean anything any more.

I usually end up driving somewhere. Anywhere. It makes me want to throw all of my stuff into my car and just run away from everyone and everything. Go somewhere where no one knows me and no one cares. Especially not me.

Ohhh, yeah i can say i have had tantrums like that. I almost lost a spouse to them. I got on some anti anxiety medication and started recognizing the effect it had on others. Sometimes when i am tired and stressed and worried about things I go into 'aspie mode'.I only focus on what i am doing and dont notice the kids at work are standing around, doing nothing. There are times i dont say much because i dont know how to read the person and it takes me longer to come up with a reply that is edited and socially acceptable. This process is exhausting when stress levels are high. Therefore I say less and conserve. If i am asked to train an employee, my brain shuts off and i am not sure how to communicate the proper information to them. I am getting better.

You know I asked mainly so I could define it for myself and I didnt want a politically correct book telling me in clinical terms.

Say I'm in a crowded snobby place. I get a headache that feels like a pait of pencils being shoved in my ears. I want to run. I want it dark. I want it quiet. I can't make a decison I can't verbalise very well. I get mad and cuss alot.

Usually this is only if I'm with someone. If I'm alone I probably would'nt have gone to a place like that to begin with or I wouldn't stay for a second longer than I had to.

I probably HAVE had worsae bouts but my memories not so good.
("Thanks Persciption medication." )