Do You Use Sign Language for Nonverbal Episodes?

Post Reply New Topic

For that situation it might be more useful to get an AAC app on your phone. (Touch a picture & it says the word.) You don't need special training to understand someone using AAC. I just grabbed a couple of free AAC apps on my iPhone to try out. (I don't have nonverbal episodes, but I'm currently obsessing over AAC and decided to try it out.)

How do people come out of nonverbal states? Is it only stress that causes them?
I had the awkward experience of knowing I was freaking out and that isolating myself for too long can cause that, so wanting to go out and engage and get out of my own head so I don't disappear down my own rabbit hole, but I can't because I'm almost nonverbal and must look wrong or troubled as people keep asking me what's wrong.

I use some ASL but mostly rely on universal gestures, like nodding and shrugging etc.

Oh, that sounds good, hadn't though of that. Do you have names for them? (I have an iPhone)

For me, yes, because my senses are getting more and more overloaded without any time to isolate and calm down, or because of some event or series of events that is/are very emotionally stressful. Or both. I don't always feel my feelings right away--sometimes I just feel some vague sense of unease that I can't identify, and may have a delayed reaction. If I am hit with several stressful events, the emotions sort of build up in me without me feeling them. I feel pressure but not what the emotion is behind it. Is it anger? fear? sadness? confusion? physical illness? Then something finally triggers all the emotions to come out all at once--MELTDOWN! This will be usually a half hour or hour of uncontrollable crying/screaming until I wear myself out. It may lead to a Shutdown, where I become very withdrawn, numb, and mostly unaware of my surroundings. Often times I skip the Meltdown and go straight to Shutdown. I can't talk or even think of English words (or any other spoken language) when in Meltdown or Shutdown. I can only think in pictures. I can gesture like I'm playing charades, but that's about it. Writing is out, too, and typing. Not that I could anyway, my hands shake too much.

I get out of nonverbal states generally by calming down and getting my emotions under control. It often requires me going somewhere dark and quiet with little stimulation. Going to bed is best, wrapped up in a blanket, maybe taking a nap because I am totally worn out for hours.

I don't even know how to sign, but I wish I knew how.

no if im nonverbal i can't communicate at all, i need to be alone completely.

I'm not sure if I fit the description. I learn sign language and have plenty of occasions to use it. (I learn online) The first reason is that I'm hard of hearing, I can hear in quiet environments, not good enough in loud ones. I can't speak at times either, when I'm tired, overstimulated or very nervous. Sign language works fine for me.

I study my country's sign language at school for the last 3 years. I'll be taking a fluency seal exam in December.

For me, nonverbal episodes are more like non-communicative episodes. I barely even blink. Sign language has some nonverbal utility when I'm sick or in a quiet setting, though it is limited since only a few people I know actually understand sign.