A #thread about #autistic #meltdown. One of the reasons I can suddenly and unexpectedly become overwhelmed is the difficulty I have monitoring how distressed I am. The tipping point when things kilter out of control is as much a surprise to me as it is to other people.
#autism
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Emotional regulation is difficult when I’m not fully aware of how emotions are making me feel, until overwhelmed. And for me the ‘why’ is always important. My mind wrestles with possible explanations for feelings that are strong but confusing.
#AllAutistics
#ActuallyAutistic
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Like many #autistic people I find that past #trauma often intrudes on the present. Analysis and recognition of patterns is how I best understand human behaviour. Something happening now that maps onto ways in which I was bullied previously can be utterly terrifying.
#bullying
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The way I process things as an autistic person means that there’s often a lag in making sense of what’s going on. The thing that completes the picture and tips me into #meltdown can be so slight as to seem ridiculous. The proverbial straw that breaks the camel’s back.
#autism
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For me #autistic meltdown is a huge release of energy. A catharsis so intense it sometimes feels unsurvivable. The aftermath is the complete opposite. Total physical and mental exhaustion. Since my #autism diagnosis I’ve become far more analytical about why I was overwhelmed.
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