How do you handle meltdowns inpublic?

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I know the obvious answer is to move to a private place, but what if you can't? I volunteer with my church's summer camp every year, and today the kids made these little wind chime things. At the end, we were all in the sanctuary and everyone pulled out their chimes and they were all ringing and i couldn't stand it. i wanted to bolt, but i couldn't leave my group, and to ask another leader to watch my group and theirs was too unnacceptable, i know. So i stayed and tried to bear it but i couldn't. there was so much sound. anyway, i started freaking out and shaking and crying a bit (no one saw...thank goodness) and basically near hyperventilting, and i'm really glad it didn't last long, or else i don't know what i would have done or how i would have acted in front of the kids. and finally when all my kids had left i just rushed out of the building. what do you do in situations where you know you're about to lose it in public?

Argh... I hate these. Public meltdowns/verges of meltdowns are horrible.

Usually the thing that works for me is, I close my eyes, try to breathe deeply as possible and try my best to think about something else. This usually stops my meltdowns unless I am pushed over the edge (which is quite rare for me now) then I have no idea what to do because logical thought leaves my mind.

Would ear plugs work? Maybe when the noise starts to get to you, you can put in a pair of ear plugs, and just keep them handy. They sell them in most drug and walmart type stores. They are disposable and are generally foam. If the foam is weird for you, you could always try swimmer's ear plugs, which tend to be made out of wax and are less weird (to me). I'm sorry I don't have much advice to offer. I'm NT, and my son who is an Aspie hasn't had the same kind of experience, as I usually avoid them overall (he's 7). Good luck, and I just want to say that you are so brave and responsible. You should be proud of yourself.

Hold it in til I pass out. Actually until I start shaking and jerking, and then I shut down.

I try to focus on just one object or even on a sound to block everything else out. It holds off a meltdown or shutdown by about 20 minutes. Or I begin imagining things in front of my eyes. Although this is very close to the shutdown state.

Meditation. Usually on a memory verse I have. I look up at the ceiling and start repeating a passage that I've memorized over and over to myself until it is all that fills my head. Usually John 1:1-5. lol. I work in my children's program at my church and it can get really overwhelming at times. Another thing I do is hyperfocus on something, like drawing or finding patterns in things and concentrate only on that, but it isn't always a good idea when you are supposed to be watching kids. I can only do that when I have other leaders I know are also watching. Going to the restroom/headache are the only things I can think of to get out of the room, but I only use those on an occasion.

earplugs...and preplan for these events by designating a back up person to take your place in case you have to leave.
The chimes would have made me nuts too.

most of the time when I dont have these things in place...I just implode instead of exploding...but hyper focusing would really help too.