Can Meltdown's Just Be Internal

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That's interesting, because to ME, if I experienced what Ezra described, it would be a seizure----'cept, I don't curl-up in a ball; I just "find" a wall ("find", as in, find a good place on the wall), and slide down it.

When I have a shutdown, I get extremely quiet (if I can get-by with just "yes" / "no", the better), and I don't get over it until I can remove myself from the situation, for a lonnnnnng while----meaning, just going to the bathroom to "exhale", won't do it). Shutdowns seem to be more difficult for everybody ELSE, than for ME (cuz the break from talking / engaging, is WONDERFUL - not that I have a choice)----cuz, people continually ask, "What's wrong?", "Did I say (or "do") something wrong?"; and, I have YET to come-up-with a satisfactory response, that makes people stop asking me. I guess it's human nature to want to know what one is dealing-with----meaning, if someone's hollerin' and throwin' stuff around, people are like "Okay, I know what THAT is" (even if they interpret it, wrongly - meaning, they might interpret as anger, but it's frustration, for instance).

I don't think I've ever experienced anything that I would classify as a "short shutdown", or a "partial shutdown"----in the sense that, I have any control, over them----they just have to run their course (with ME, anyway).

Awww, I'm sorry----I don't want you to feel like you should stop asking questions.....

We have to do that, IMO, to LEARN.

I would think 30 different answers would be WORSE!!

I don't think he meant a literal seizure, I think it was more like that they are similar because you have no control over them once they happen, like your higher brain functions just turn off and you're not in control of your body anymore. For me, they are also like seizures in that I get completely exhausted afterwards, and just need to go to bed and sleep for a while.

Mine are usually internal and it causes me to shut down.

I know what you mean. It's a result of overload, so close enough.



Yes you're right of course that's a shutdown. And I have said plenty of times that's what happens when I have a shutdown.



Yes exactly that. I even discussed it once with a girl who has severe epilepsy.

I can't always tell when I'm having a meltdown at first. It usually starts by me going very quiet or being able to say only yes or no and I won't make eye contact. I will start to stim a lot more, rocking and pacing in circles and doing weird things with my hands. At this point it feels like im about to explode I will start to tear up and possibly put my hands on my head or over my ears. Then if it continues I will feel very angry and start punching or kicking walls and things or pulling my hair or banging against things. Then I will go into a sort of shutdown and lay on the floor and cry and I will feel very exhausted for at least a few hours and possibly all day.

I certainly see internal meltdowns as shutdowns. I have both but most of mine are internal shutdowns, and sometimes on the outside I can be acting completely normal. The term "internal screaming" that you see floating around online is what alot of my shutdowns are like now, sometimes they're happening while I'm talking to people and being polite - but on the inside I'm completely losing my mind. Now and again I do end up losing control of my emotions and getting a bit teary or loud/frustrated at things, but that happens less and less with the more emotional maturity I gain - and it's an uphill battle, but I'm getting there.

Here is an article about autistic shutdowns that I found very comprehensive, informative, and helpful.

I have experienced several of these as well as meltdowns.

Thanks , what a useful article , I identified with an awful lot of that. Now I'm leaning more towards I may have ASD again - I have it , I don't , I have it , I don't , I have it , I don't , wish my assessment would hurry up

I have yet to meet anyone who follows this advice when I am having a shutdown

The most common reaction I recieve when I start shutting down, demand I tell them what is wrong NOW. I try and tell them something like get back to me later, this is often deemed UNACCEPTABLE. Motivational type s**t I sometimes recieve is really annoying during these times as is the statement "it will work out".

Looking at that link, I don't see what the difference is between "selective mutism" and verbal shutdown... Other than the shutdown could be from something happy too or anger? But I would guess there is still anxiety present or no?

My understanding is that you cant be diagnosed with selective mutism if you are autistic.
Shutdowns are not context dependant - as selective mutism is. Typically someone with selective mutism will always struggle with speaking in say, school but be "fine" everywhere else but shutdowns may occur one day at school, another say at home and not influence/dictate the behaviour in the same environment at a later date.
(You can have a verbal shutdown anywhere - whereas people who are selectively mute will generally have a few different situations where they are mute. )

They are still able to think/write down what they want to say. (They have the words, but cant just get them out)

Shutdowns also usually occur as a result of sensory issues/frustration, selective mutism because of anxiety.


For me, when i have a shutdown i am mute and thinking properly/writing down things are difficult since i cant find/think of/use/process the words. (I do however use a picture based AAC in these cases. It has text and pictures)

As you say in your following post you use picture based ACC can't you get some that say things like "I having a shut down feck orf" obviously my example is a little extreme but you get the idea.

I gave a button with the title shutdown and a picture of a off button. When pressed it will say "I am having a shutdown and struggle with processing speech and talking. Only ask me yes or no questions and only one question at a time."

I do not use nor even know what a picture based ACC is. If I had such a thing that would probably bring more unwanted attention because just as shutdown is my natural autistic way of dealing with stress the urge to either comfort or bully someone in distress is hardwired into most people.

AAC is an alternative way to communicate. I use an app on iPad, it has text and pictures and by pressing the button it speaks a preprogrammed phrase. I can also type if i am able and it will speak what i type.