I asked on social media how meltdowns, burnouts and shutdowns have personal effects on neurodivergent people.
Here are some of their answers:
Anonymous, 46- Autistic, ADHD, PDA
Meltdown: I suddenly scream, cry, throw things, hit things, usually over something “small” such as not having the food I expected to have or someone asking me to do something for them at work. I usually am able to hide this from people, or I at least try to. So, it’s worse when I’m alone.
Burn out: I am impatient, easily agitated, highly stressed, feel like I can’t handle things that I usually can. Lose motivation, let things slide, procrastinate, try to get out of things.
Shut down: What it sounds like. I cannot communicate well or at all, I need to be left alone, I have no motivation to do the easiest things, no energy. Usually happens after a burn out when I can’t keep going anymore.
Daniel, 35- Dyscalculia, Colour-blind, Anxiety.
Burn down- This makes me very sleepy. Whilst this is having, I can have vivid nightmares that make me feel like I am being followed by someone I can’t see but can feel them. This can cause me to have panic attacks.
Shut down- This makes my surroundings clouded. It feels like I have cotton wool in my ear drums. If it continues to get worse, it can eventually change my personality and my behaviour. This can cause me to be more anxious that’s set off by small things.
Anonymous, 28- Autistic
Meltdowns: When I was younger, I used to shut myself in my bedroom and throw stuff whilst screaming and used to punch walls, furniture etc and pretty much just thrash around and have panic attacks. Now, I still shut myself away, so people don’t see, and I’ve found screaming into my pillow and punching it is a much better, safer release. I’ve tried stimming (spinning, pacing, flapping) but it doesn’t seem to help. Just before a meltdown, it feels like I just want to explode. Like I need all of the feelings to just disappear. I always feel intense rage, sadness, panic. I don’t even think about what made me like that when I’m in a meltdown, it’s like my brain just switches off from the memories and just concentrates on getting feelings out instead.
Burnouts – the length of a burnout varies a lot with me. The bigger the event and the more anxious I am during it, the longer the burnout time. For example: I went on holiday for a week abroad this summer and when we got home, it took me almost a week to recover. I just couldn’t do much, I had to keep lying down and had minimal socialisation. When I go to a concert or a party, it can take up to a couple of days to recover. During a burnout, I feel extremely drained of energy, both physically and mentally. It feels very similar to depression but not quite.
Shut down – It’s like my brain just switches off. I zone out when I get overwhelmed/anxious. I can’t go out by myself for fear that I’ll shut down and won’t be aware of my surroundings, it’s quite scary thinking about that. That’s why my partner goes everywhere with me just in case. I actually had a shutdown at a show I went to and missed a bit of the show, it’s so frustrating. I seem to be having a lot more shutdowns than meltdowns as I age.
Want to read more about Meltdown, Burnouts and shut down. Have a read of part 1:
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