An analogy for a shutdown is like a computer trying to turn on but it can't because there isn't enough power to do so. In a shutdown an autistic person might not seem themselves because they're so overwhelmed that their focus has shifted to the basic functions.
They may not respond to communication anymore, retreat to their room or lie down on the floor. They may also no longer be able to move from the situation they are in, no matter what it is (for example, a shopping centre or a classroom). Shutdowns tend to be more discreet than meltdowns, and may sometimes go unnoticed.
This is similar to what some people with autism experience when they get overwhelmed—a shutdown. Shutdowns are related to meltdowns. In both situations, an autistic person's brain becomes so stressed that he/she can't control his/her reaction. In the case of a meltdown, he/she may cry, scream, hit, and kick.
Autistic meltdowns and shutdowns are both behavioural responses to feeling overwhelmed, overly frustrated, tired and/or experiencing sensory overload. The difference between the two is that meltdowns are outward, and shutdowns are inward responses or behaviours.
As a result of this condition, he is often unaware of others' mental states and has difficulty attributing beliefs and desires to others. Lacking in this ability to develop a mental awareness of what is in the mind of his partner, the Aspergers man is often viewed as emotionally detached.
A child or an adult with ASD may not seek the same depth and frequency of expressions of love through acts of affection, or realize that an expression of affection is expected in a particular situation and would be enjoyed by the other person.
Individuals with ASDs commonly have a low frustration tolerance and significant irritability. They may report that they alternate from calm to extreme anger very quickly. There have been several studies that suggest individuals with ASDs have difficulty understanding and interpreting their own emotions.
The best remedy for a shutdown is giving the person the space to rest, recuperate and recover without placing additional demands on them. A shutdown can be like a reset for an autistic person.
Many autistic people will show signs of distress before having a meltdown, which is sometimes referred to as the “rumble stage”. They may start to exhibit signs of anxiety such as pacing, seek reassurance through repetitive questioning or physical signs such as rocking or becoming very still.
During a meltdown, we found that most autistics described feeling overwhelmed by information, senses, and social and emotional stress. They often felt extreme emotions, such as anger, sadness, and fear, and had trouble with thinking and memory during the meltdown.
Level 3 is the most severe level of autism. People with level 3 autism have limited ability to speak clearly. Difficulty with both verbal and nonverbal communication makes it challenging to interact with others. This level of autism requires a higher level of support throughout life.
What is the Silent Treatment? Silent treatment is when a person is not willing to communicate with the other person verbally. People, who make use of it, tend to ignore the presence of the other person. Autistic individuals may use this often to manipulate others, but also due to multiple other reasons.
What is an Asperger's meltdown? An Asperger's meltdown is when the person with Asperger's temporarily loses control of themselves because of an emotional response to environmental factors. This is not something that is caused by one specific thing.
Autistic burnout can look like many things, but most commonly, it shows itself as extreme exhaustion, increased sensory sensitives, loss of executive functioning skills, decreased ability to manage emotions, difficulty adapting to change, and depression.
Children with autism are often unaware of their behaviors and struggle with reading the body language of others. Yelling at a child with autism can cause chronic levels of stress in the child and is not helpful in working towards a solution or strategy for change.
Children with ASD are more likely to be bullied than children without disabilities, and repeated bullying can produce trauma. Other potentially traumatic experiences include neglect and witnessing violence. Symptoms of trauma can include losing sleep or having flashbacks or anxiety about the experience.
Aggression in autism can involve severe tantrums, anger, hostility, sudden-onset violent outbursts including self-harm and rage 'episodes'. Up to 20% of individuals with autism exhibit such violent behaviours.
What is a sensory meltdown? Sensory meltdowns are what I consider to be extreme temper tantrums that have a sensory trigger to them. These typically involve extreme aggressive behaviors (head banging, hand biting, scratching or pushing others), and require a lot of assistance to recover.
During a depressive episode, a person may feel stuck in their sadness or feel numb and lose interest in their hobbies. When a person is experiencing autistic burnout, however, they may not feel sadness at all and may lose abilities that they once had (e.g. may lose the ability to speak).
Shutdown due to sensory overload usually means the individual goes quiet and just stops processing information. Usually, the individual will become unresponsive. Sometimes they may have movements like rocking or fiddling. Typically, they use these movements in an attempt to try to calm down.
The terms shutdown and meltdown are often used interchangeably. While both are reactions caused by sensory, information, or emotional overload, a meltdown consists of more outward behavior, and a shutdown is an internalized mode that is much less noticeable.
The Asperger's mind enjoys and focuses on details, while the normal mind is more skilled at assembling whole concepts from details. Some people with Asperger's are visual thinkers and others are math, music, or number thinkers, but all think in specifics.
Angry outbursts or crying fits may erupt when an Aspie's emotional reservoir overflows. Perhaps in part because Aspies cannot easily access our emotions, we cannot easily regulate them.
People with this disorder have difficulty in a variety of situations and, as a result, they are prone to angry outbursts. These outbursts generally happen because the person has trouble identifying their emotions or expressing them.