Who here doesn't have meltdowns?

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Very rarely at my age (44), due to understanding the things and signs leading up to one.

I still don't have a full understanding of the exact definition of "meltdown", but what happens to me if I allow it, is more of a panic attack by definition. I don't get angry or break things (never did), but I begin to hyperventilate, pulse goes up to 180+, and I tremble, and am unable to speak clearly. Probably the worst was long before I knew what it was about, and before I had any idea about AS or high functioning autism. I was 17, and had gone to Spring Break in Palm Springs... Ultra-crowded, and total craziness an chaos. I went because my friends did, and I didn't sleep for 24 hours. People running in the streets with water pistols filled with perfume and other liquids, very drunk girls with wet bikinis jumping into my car car and reaching for things (sounds like that should be heaven on earth for a teenage boy, but for me it was too much)... I suddenly got scared in the middle of the crowds, and I pulled over my car in a no-stopping zone with people blowing horns, and kind of blacked out. Some guy threatened to beat me up for blocking him in, and I guess common sense snapped me back into reality, and I started the car and drove off the main road to a quieter spot and collected myself.

I can feel the feelings ahead of those panic thoughts, and I can act to divert and prevent. The causes seem to be loud noises, big crowds, and strobe lights. At least one of those must be present, and usually two of those, in order for the meltdown sequence to start. I had a mini-meltdown a year or so ago... My wife and I had taken our dogs to the vet, and when we got out of the car, one of the dogs' paws pushed the rape button on the car key fob. The horn blew at a certain pulse, which set off the panic. It took me about a half hour to get my pulse down, and I guess I was muttering something unintelligible. It was very embarrassing. Again, these are not temper tantrums, as some people seem to be describing. If I get angry, I express it in words, but I never cuss or throw things, nor have I ever become violent. That's a whole different personality disorder, if I understand it correctly. I have eternal patience with things that frustrate many other people. One of my special interests is restoring vintage electronics. Other people might get frustrated pumping 100s of hours into an antique TV set, and not having it work right, etc... In my case, the challenge just gets more interesting, and I can continue that way for years or forever without getting angry. Even if I hurt myself by a clumsy act... Still no temper.

Charles

I don't really have them. I think I may have when I was little, but my aunt informed me that the "rules" said I couldn't have meltdowns, so I didn't. I didn't even cry until 17. Then about once every 4 or 5 months something little would set me off. Nowadays I do sometimes cry or scratch/slap myself if I am too stressed. Crying I can usually keep until I'm alone and I know I'm crying for no reason, so it is sensory overload I think.