Autistic Meltdown vs Shutdown

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[ruthhorowitz]

Meltdowns are more volatile, but they are short. Shutdowns last longer and in the long run are more debilitating because I don't function properly fir an extended period of time. During the worst of this horrific burnout I've been in for three years my Shutdowns would last about a month. Since the slightest thing would send me spiraling I was in shutdown 95% of the time. Now they last a few days to a week. It's one of the signs I'm starting to heal.

[johnknox]

Great way of describing them. This is exactly how it is for me. Been having meltdowns, and burnout a lot lately. However I am currently in shutdown and I don’t see me coming out for a while. I really need to be able to find home. My life has been out of whack for a long time and it’s taking a big toll on me, my body and my mental health. I NEED it to change.

[jacobpaniagua]

For me…
Meltdowns: cant mask, everyone thinks Im mad at them and being rude, super horrible experience, ruins my week.
Shutdowns: I shut up and suffer, and come to know what hell feels like. “I have no mouth and I must scream”. Oh, fun fact: the medical center at Disneyland wont help you if youre having a shutdown. They told me to sit on the bench outside. I did. For about 4 hours. I should sue them and make them pay for the therapy.

[GokenSayajin]

I never considered or even heard of "shutdown" response

I had a horrible cycle of being shut down for over a year with sporadic meltdowns I self induced because I let myself remain in a toxic relationship of our own creation.

[RowenJ]

I had a bad meltdown at work yesterday and there’s nothing more embarrassing than melt down in from of others.

[misspat]

I shutdown to avoid melting down. I agree; it’s the equivalent of a turtle hiding in its shell! 🐢

[Catlily]

That might be true for me too but they can both be pretty bad.