Meltdown

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describe me what do you men by it..is it the same for every aspie? Do I have one right now?

For me a meltdown is when I break down and cry or pace or bang my head against the wall because I'm overwhelmed. Or I start rocking, with my hands over my ears. But it varies from person to person. You could be having one now, what are your symptoms?

I would describe a meltdown as that feeling that you are out of control. All your senses get stronger (or you percieve them as being stronger) and you feel so frightened or enraged that you just want to scream, flap your hands, bang your head or whatever. I get them quite a lot so I should know a bit about them!

I never flap hands, but I tick off easily when I getted rapped or insulted or shouted at by my friend. I have this heavy head as if I am on sedatives or heavy tranquilizers and same for my head, I never felt like that for a long time, nothing can activiate any interset but sitting on this website reading and writng things and answers. I wish I could cry, but can't, I am angry inside yes, I have gone too far some weeks ago when I became physically agressive toward my friend. I want to withdraw, but know it isn't a solution.

Sounds more like super frustration than a meltdown per se. But it could lead to one.

Unfortunately I throw things and yell... I wish I could get a grip on that. Of course when I am furious or severely anxious, I never think of that at the time

I used to do those sort of things a lot when I was a kid, I disturbed the classroom. Even my childhood records calls my problems meltdowns. As an adult, it's only happened less than five times.

which sort of things?

All sorts of uncontrolable anger, rage tantrums over the smallest things like not being able to use the computer when I wanted to.

I don't get like that if I am unable to do something or if someone said something to me that upset me.. I only get like that if I cannot find something that I NEED or if I am beyond stress with life.

For example where u are close to hooking up with a chick from work, and at the upcoming Xmas party she sits on your lap and chases you all night then kisses you, then the next day tells you it was a mistake and you totally lose it, going into work the following day dressed in nothing but black and not speaking a word to anybody all day, exept to tell them to f**k off that is. Oh, and not to forget the ton of alcohol you drank and force up the antidepressant that was supposed to "fix" you, but never really worked.



But yeah, thats just an example.

autistic meltdowns are not just an aspie thing-it also affects auties,and PDDNOSers.

everyone has got their different meanings for it,but meltdowns are outer,more physical,screaming etc outbursts that are completely uncontrollable,if someone is able to control their outburst,it is known as a tantrum.

some who are having a meltdown may scream and jump about and bang things,some get violent with their surroundings,some look like they are having a grand mal seizure etc.

the neuro am see,classes meltdowns as 'behavioral' because meltdown isn't an official medical term,but are completely uncontrollable.

those who are not having an outburst,but experience an 'inside' meltdown,who may also be rocking and shut off from the world,rather than shout,get physical etc are having what is called autistic shutdown.
meltdowns are thought to be fueled by the fight or flight chemicals.


am have had a EEG done during severe meltdowns [which also combined with TC seizures and shutdown] and it has shown it causes abnormality in the right mid temporal area of the brain,it affects senses amongst other things which explains why it makes sensory problems even more extreme after a meltdown.
am would recommend a long EEG for anyone who has severe meltdowns,as can also turn out to be having seizures during MD.

Do you have one right now. no... you're in total control or you wouldn't be posting.

There are two kinds of meltdown reactions, an angry style and a curled up style. They're both facets of the same thing but people often treat them differently.

Have a read of what my blog has to say about meltdowns;

The Aspie Meltdown - An insider's point of view - Part 1
http://life-with-aspergers.blogspot.com/2007/11/aspie-meltdown-insiders-point-of-view.html

The Aspie Meltdown - An insider's point of view - Part 2
http://life-with-aspergers.blogspot.com/2007/11/aspie-meltdown-insiders-point-of-view_14.html

I tend to have uncontrollable anger in situations that place too many demands on me. Calmness is the first thing to go. Looking back, I see kind of a pattern in slow motion. It can happen in situations such as too many people asking me to do too many things at once (work, family), or also in situations where I can't control the outcome even though it seems like the solution would be logically simple, for instance at the Department of Motor Vehicles or returning an item to a store etc.

First I start feeling like I need, absolutely need to escape, but cannot, because I am...like...locked into the situation. It's fight for me, not flight. There is no flight.

I become aware of my face feeling flushed and blood rushing through my body. And adrenaline.

I am sure that on the outside people think I am beginning to seem sarcastic...maybe even insulting in my tone. It doesn't occur to me that I would get a better result by stopping.

When the interaction/situation ends, I run to a private place where I destroy something or better still, hit some part of my body against something until I can't feel it any more (like spraining my wrist hitting my steering wheel over some indescribable situation that doesn't have to do with money or sex or power but just...discomfort and aggravation).

It's become better controlled at work. I can see the situations arising well before they boil over. Also I think my boss can spot it coming, she tries to head it off as well....my office puts the "fun" in dysfunctional

do all Aspies have meltdowns?

I start to feel anxious inside me and anxiety starts to build up, I can't stay clam anymore or even do things to pass time like read my book or play my video game. That is me heading for a meltdown and when I have one, I start to cry or scream. I used to think that's what a meltdown was but i found out there are different kinds of meltdowns so I don't know when I have one then if it doesn't always mean crying and screaming.