Proper autistically executed meltdowns

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I think my meltdowns used to be, because when I was upset, I could never put it in words, why I was upset, so it got worse, instead of better.

Don't be silly, OP, that is quite a recognized form of meltdown. (I should know.)

What we should do is define meltdown in terms of what's actually happening, cognitively, rather than how you react to it; because people react in all sorts of ways, from the uncommon but dramatic non-directed or self-directed violence to a simple, quiet, shutdown, becoming unresponsive temporarily.

What happens, mentally, during a meltdown is that you've been given some cognitive task that you are unable to do, but also are unable to escape from. That can be anything from processing the sensory input you're getting hit with, to trying to reconcile some change that you weren't expecting, to trying to deal with emotions, to being simply exhausted by doing things that you can do, but that require maximum effort. When you have those demands put on you, but your mind can't give what you're asking it to give, you lock up, and lose a lot of the cognitive ability you usually have. You could lose the ability to process sensory input; you could lose the ability to plan your actions; and you will almost certainly be very upset and possibly frightened by the experience. How you react to this problem are the outward symptoms of a meltdown.

Are you sure that they're actually separate emotions? To me they seem so linked.. I mean, anger usually has to do with blaming it on someone else, whereas anxiety/stress might be more general or situational.. but I'm not sure that they're actually different things.

Here is an ancient thread on the subject...

http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt81289.html

I get very angry and/or upset and crying and have trouble talking.

Meltdown just means getting overwhelmed/not coping and losing control. It doesn't exclusively mean thrashing on the floor or screaming.

Thanks callisto, that's quite informative.

Well, if you are in a situation feeling something akin to impending doom, I don't see how that translates into anger. I don't see how anxiety and anger could be the same or even tangential to each other.
Isn't anxiety just anxiety? Does other feelings have to be involved?

I have never thought about what feeling crying conveys though when sadness isn't involved. I suppose crying isn't a feeling in itself, but it conveys a feeling, and what kind it conveys in any given situation is anyone's guess. I highly doubt my tear excretions conveyed anger.
Bottom line is we should all have our amygdalas removed, then all the nonsense would stop.