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Meltdown in front of class

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Claire_Louise
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05 Sep 2010, 12:24 am

Thanks everyone for advice, very helpful.
@ chainsawswinger - I probably won't have the guts to remind people about it, but thanks for support and ideas :)



n4mwd
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05 Sep 2010, 8:36 am

buryuntime wrote:
n4mwd wrote:
Meltdowns happen sometimes, but if you are an aspie, then you are also smart enough to recognize a meltdown when it happens - AND learn to deal with the change in a constructive way rather than exposing yourself that way. A change in routine tends to spark meltdowns as you know, but you also need to know that stuff changes. Nothing, I mean Nothing, will be exactly the same as it is today forever.

You need to develop emotional shock absorbers to handle yourself in those situations like you mentioned. Maybe keep quiet and ask to speak to the teacher and tell her that this change really bothers you and that you would like to sit quietly in the back of the room for a while. That will give you some time to adjust if you need it.

Please don't use blanket statements like that. Some can tell when they are about to have a meltdown, some do not. I also wouldn't even describe what the poster had as a meltdown-- it's not considered a meltdown in my eyes unless the person is screaming, on the floor, injuring, etc. They were just overwhelmed, not having a meltdown. I also wonder how someone can pace while sitting at their desk.


What you describe is more like a seizure and not a meltdown and is a very narrow definition of a meltdown and obviously not correct. I have had many meltdowns myself and I never had one like you describe.



buryuntime
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05 Sep 2010, 11:19 am

n4mwd wrote:
buryuntime wrote:
n4mwd wrote:
Meltdowns happen sometimes, but if you are an aspie, then you are also smart enough to recognize a meltdown when it happens - AND learn to deal with the change in a constructive way rather than exposing yourself that way. A change in routine tends to spark meltdowns as you know, but you also need to know that stuff changes. Nothing, I mean Nothing, will be exactly the same as it is today forever.

You need to develop emotional shock absorbers to handle yourself in those situations like you mentioned. Maybe keep quiet and ask to speak to the teacher and tell her that this change really bothers you and that you would like to sit quietly in the back of the room for a while. That will give you some time to adjust if you need it.

Please don't use blanket statements like that. Some can tell when they are about to have a meltdown, some do not. I also wouldn't even describe what the poster had as a meltdown-- it's not considered a meltdown in my eyes unless the person is screaming, on the floor, injuring, etc. They were just overwhelmed, not having a meltdown. I also wonder how someone can pace while sitting at their desk.


What you describe is more like a seizure and not a meltdown and is a very narrow definition of a meltdown and obviously not correct. I have had many meltdowns myself and I never had one like you describe.

I don't see how it is obviously not correct. If I went by the OP's definition I'd probably be having a meltdown every other time I left my house. A meltdown is completely overwhelmed to the point you will harm yourself, yell, screaming, anything to get whatever it is away. It has nothing to do with seizures. You're not having a meltdown, you're either having a shutdown (the opposite of a meltdown) or are just overwhelmed.



Pamo
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05 Sep 2010, 7:25 pm

This girl is 15 and reaching out for help. She is self diagnosed and had an episode that she is calling a meltdown. Arguing over the definition of a meltdown is not helpful to anyone. Please stop.



buryuntime
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05 Sep 2010, 8:01 pm

Pamo wrote:
This girl is 15 and reaching out for help. She is self diagnosed and had an episode that she is calling a meltdown. Arguing over the definition of a meltdown is not helpful to anyone. Please stop.

No offense but it's pretty obvious you're NT without looking at your profile. It is impossible for autistics to communicate without arguing over a definition. :P I think the definitions of things are very important. You can't communicate right if you have a different understanding of a word than others do, or there will be errors.



jec6613
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05 Sep 2010, 8:20 pm

Here are a few tricks I use to stave off a shutdown, meltdown or otherwise overwhelming situation:

First, I remove myself from the situation. I only need to hold myself together for the few seconds or minutes to get to a bathroom or other quiet place and put myself back together, and go over and script my return to the situation so I'm ready for it.

Second, I carry a ball with me. It's an old one from a logitech trackball. It'll follow nearly newtonian physics even when a spin is placed on it, and it has an irregular patern of dots that I still haven't fully counted in the year I've been using it, and it gives me something to concentrate on and shut out the outside world. You can use whatever you like, but an object to focus on when you need to shut out the world I find helpful.

Lastly, if you have a really good friend, someone you trust without question, they can help you navigate such events and help you remove yourself from the situation, get yourself back together and then go back and re-engage in class.



PunkyKat
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09 Sep 2010, 1:42 pm

Your class should be thankful it was not a violent meltdown like I have. If anyone was stupid enough to say anything, I woud hurt them..physically.


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Tory_canuck
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13 Sep 2010, 4:17 am

If you feel a meltdown coming, just say your stomach is bothering you and you need to run to the crapper.


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