When things go wrong--survival strategies

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So, I had a nice quiet day planned. But between Saying goodbye to husband and finishing checking emails, trucks came lumbering down our quiet dead end street and started tearing up the asphalt. Currently, no more than 16 feet from my couching there are men drilling into the pavement. It's really loud and jarring. The whole house shakes. This has been going on for about 2 hours. My house is really small, so there doesn't feel like there is anywhere to hide. I can't concentrate. I'm shaking and I have the beginning of a raging headache. I haven't been able to do any housework or work on my projects. And, I'm terrified at the thought of taking the dogs out for their normal walk at 11:45 after my lunch. I have my new earphones on, but I can still hear what's going on outside. So, I'm trying my best to avoid a meltdown.
Strategies that I am using:
--Headphones with ocean sounds--sensory blocking
--Big sweatshirt that smells of my husband--distraction
--heavy blanket with dog laying on top of my feet and along side me--pressure
--surfing the net--distraction
--breathing exercises
--If I can get myself together I'll make some tea with lemon and honey
--I'm trying to avoid taking a sedative, but I may have to
What strategies do you use to cope when things go wrong?

- Listen to loud music
- Talk to myself
- Pace
- Breathing exercises sometimes

But, to be honest, I fail most of the time and get really angry instead.

I wish I could listen to music. It seems like such a "normal" activity, but I don't think I process the noise like other people. Most music is really hard to listen to for me. But I'm definitely talking to myself. At least with the dogs, it sounds like I'm talking to them...

That makes complete sense. I feel that way about a lot of things

When I'm first aware of the problem, I tell myself, "Stop. Think." Which is kind of a personal signal to try to mentally step back from the situation, look at the problem, and plan out a solution. I can't act without a plan; without a plan I'm just lost and likely to melt down.

That's exactly what you're doing, isn't it? I mean--looking at the problem, solving it, making a plan? Bravo.

To de-fuse potential meltdowns, I:
--Go somewhere private, quiet, and preferably dim.
--Curl up, sit down, lean up against something. Having to maintain my own body posture can get stressful when there is so little energy left.
--Wrap self in blanket, or crawl under a weighted blanket.
--Close eyes, put head down, cover head in some way. This blocks out some sensory input.
--Mentally slow heart rate and breathing, reduce muscle tension. (You can easily learn to do this through relaxation techniques.)
--Wait. Usually, this works. If not, just wait out the meltdown--I'm already in a quiet, relatively private place, so it does less damage there than anywhere else.

I think they're gone!! ! It's been a little while, at first I figured they had stopped for lunch, but they still haven't come back
I'm pretty groggy from the sedative so I'm probably going to have to sleep, but it's going to be okay. This website is very helpful.
Callista, it sounds like you have the same approach that I do to meltdowns. I wonder if most autistic people react the same way? I mean, I know NTs whose strategy, when they are overwhelmed, would involve going out for a run, or a bar, or a gym, which is the total opposite of what I need. Anyway, I'm glad this website is here...

Great! Hope you stick around.

I dunno how many people deal with meltdowns in similar ways, but I do know lots of know that going somewhere alone is a good thing when you are stressed.

Find out who they work for (city? county? DoT?) call their office and let them know there's a salmon creek half a block from the work site. Or a wetland, or an endangered butterfly, or something.

The work will immediately cease while the government undergoes a 10-year environmental impact study.

One downfall: your property taxes will go up to pay for the study.

Lots of caffeine.

If leaving is an option, even if I have nowhere to go, I'll just drive for an hour or two to burn off steam. Sometimes go to the gym, but I don't like going with a bad mood, as it negatively affects my lifts.

Sometimes confronting the source of agitation works for me. In your situation (if they come back) steel yourself and walk your dog as close to them as possible. You don't need to talk to them (and probably couldn't because of the noise) but it may give you a sense of empowerment.

In general I use/carry (if I think I might have one like the airport)
Headphones with meditation music if I can't get silence. I really want some noise canceling headphone.
The demo ones I tried in a shop had a jet engine sound next to them and I couldn't here a thing.
Sunglasses.
Water, sometimes dehydration is a factor with me.
Granola bars, low blood sugar too
a distraction like a easy to watch tv show, simpsons for example.
I haven't tried pressure. I realy want a weighted blanket

Just go somewhere, anywhere really. If you have something you need to go do anyway, do that, if not just drive/walk around somewhere way away from the noise for a few hours.