Are meltdowns only a symptom of autism or...

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How can you guys not avoid "melting down"?

I don't have sensory issues beyond some sensitives being a little more sensitive than the norm, but I've never been so overwhelmed by them as to have a meltdown (last night, my hearing seemed extremely acute for some reason, and I was trying to go to sleep). How can it be that bad?

I very seldom have meltdowns. I attempt (with a fair degree of success) to keep total control of myself. Anxiety attacks occur sometimes in the evenings and keep me from sleeping sometimes (especially if I'm having a paranoid episode. In those circumstances, I confess, I occasionally begin to lose touch with reality and it is very disturbing to look at afterwards).

Anything like stress is either avoided or put (mentally) into a safe in my head where I look at it all in private (anxiety time). This is perhaps not healthy (insomnia and increased risk of epileptic seizures due to stress + fatigue) but it works to a degree. I stay anonymous in public and can release in private.

Keeping that level of self control was easy for me as when I was young any time I let the cast-iron shell over my personality crack for a moment would get used as an excuse for my classmates at school to abuse me, either physically, sexually or emotionally. It has been effectively pounded into me to live behind a mask I adopt to persuade people to leave me alone. All I need is to be alone with my mind and enjoy the gifts it has (intellectually. I'm not a genius or a Stephen King clone but I have enough to keep myself happy and that's what counts).

It was easy to learn as I am reclusive, stubborn and have a degree of paranoia, and now it is second nature to me.

Damn, how did I get so far off topic?

*puts on his mask and steps back into the shadows for a coffee*

Cheers,

Torak.

It's not always sensory issues. Sometimes it can be something else, too; like, perhaps, feeling that someone has overcharged you.