Autistic Meltdowns/Shutdowns
GGC - Meeting the needs of Autistic People
A meltdown is an intense response to an overwhelming situation. It happens when someone becomes completely overwhelmed by their situation and can lead to a temporarily loss of control of their behaviour.
Whether in terms of outward expression (meltdown) or inward expression (shutdown), this is often brought about by lack of consideration of the Autistic SPACE principles outlined here.
Neither of these things should be viewed as challenging behaviour but if they do occur the best approach is often to allow space for the person to recover.
Experiencing persistent meltdowns/shutdowns can lead to Autistic burnout, characterised by pervasive, long-term exhaustion, loss of function, and reduced tolerance to stimulus. Application of the Autistic SPACE principles can help go some way to reducing this.
For further information and advice on Autistic meltdowns, click on the image below:
