another topic on meltdowns

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I need help, guys.
I'm trying to figure all this out in my mind.

When I have a meltdown, I scream and bang my head.. I really do feel bad... and sometimes don't remember what happened afterwards.
I need help, because I really would like to talk about this issue to fellow aspies who understand exactly what I'm talking about.
How do you cope? How do you stop yourself from getting to the point of screaming and head-banging? How do you stop the emotional overload?

Any advise will be appriciated. And of course, if anyone would like to PM me, I'd appriciate that too.

Thank you!

Charlie

When I get to that breaking point, I have to do something or else I will have a bad meltdown. I have to retreat to my bedroom---my family knows to let me be alone. I first have the curtains pulled because I have light sensitive issues, and I pull the covers up around me. If it's summer and warm, I just use the sheet. I like to lay in the bed in my undershorts only because I like the feel of the sheets/covers on me. Sometimes I stare at the border around the room and try to concentrate on nothing. I know that is easier said than done, but I really try to do that. It does help me.

Other times, when I get in the bed, I will bring my laptop with me and play some solitaire on it until I get sleepy.

The important thing here is that I try to get myself away from the issue(s) that brought me into meltdown mode.

Now, when this happens away from home---that is a problem for me. I just have to get away from people. It helps me to set down if I can find a chair and rock. In public that can be bad because I can also get very sensitive to noise---even if it's not that loud.

The other night, we (my family) were eating at a restaurant and the table next to us was real loud. It was bothering me. I kept my head down looking at my plate. I was thinking (daydreaming) about my interests. It helped me block the table out a little bit---enough that I was able to partially enjoy my steak. Otherwise, I would have had to leave the restaurant, or at least go to the bathroom to get some quiet until I felt better. I did have a meltdown earlier that day after too much socializing at my job. I am a teacher, and it was the last day of school before Winter break, and there were dinners, parties, etc. I got real stressed by the time I got home. Once home, I went to the bathroom and rocked back and forth. When my wife got home, I was still a mess. I talked to her about it---and finally I calmed down. Then, that was when we ate at that restaurant.

Sometimes, after I get real stressed, but not necessarily in danger of a meltdown, my wife will either rub my back, or rub my feet. That helps if you have someone that can do that for you.

Good luck to you on this. I don't know if I have helped or not.