How to help prevent meltdowns and shutdowns As they are at a reduced ability to process what is going on they may struggle to communicate as they normally do, which can mean they are mute or have a lot of difficult forming coherent sentences. In a shutdown an autistic person might not seem themselves because they're so overwhelmed that their focus has shifted to the basic functions. Watch Ambitious about Autism’s Youth Patrons explain what a shutdown is and how to support someone when it happens.Īn analogy for a shutdown is like a computer trying to turn on but it can't because there isn't enough power to do so. situations that are very active or physical.situations that require a lot of thinking.They are often the result of situations with high demand in one or a few of the following areas: If meltdowns are equivalent to the fight response, then shutdowns are similar to the freeze response. This is because the person has been in a distressing situation and has had a highly adrenalised and emotionalised response. Meltdowns are very physically tiring and emotionally draining for the individual. That's why it's really important to minimise the risk of this happening - both for the person and those around them. While in a meltdown a person can be injurious to others or themselves because of the extreme state of anxiety their body is in. They are a reaction to a highly distressing situation or environment. It's important to understand that meltdowns are not 'temper tantrums'. Watch Ambitious about Autism’s Youth Patrons explain what a meltdown is and how to support someone when it happens. When an autistic person is having a meltdown they often have increased levels of anxiety and distress which are often interpreted as frustration, a 'tantrum' or an aggressive panic attack. Meltdowns are similar to the fight response. If the person cannot escape that leaves two options: either fight or freeze. When someone is in this situation their reaction is either flight, fight or freeze. Meltdowns are often the result of situations which are highly stimulating or create high levels of anxiety which feel like they can't be escaped.
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