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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