Meltdowns &
shutdowns

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Meltdowns and shutdowns are a very distressing and extreme reaction to sensory overload, change in routine, communication difficulties or anxiety. Many autistic people have them. They occur when we are completely overwhelmed by the current situation and we temporarily lose control of our behaviour.

At this point, we have reached and exceeded capacity. Our batteries are spent. All spoons have been used up. Our buckets are overflowing uncontrollably.

During a meltdown, we will not be able to process any more input whatsoever. We may cry, scream, get angry, shout, or express our pain physically by hitting out. By the time we are in full meltdown, we are unable to control our behaviour or emotions, and it is too late to stop the meltdown. At this stage, all we can do is ride it out.   

Obviously, it is distressing to watch someone having a meltdown, but it is far, far more distressing for the person themselves. It is an exhausting and painful experience, and many autistic adults will tell you that despite having no control over the situation, they will still feel embarrassed and deeply ashamed, as well as utterly exhausted afterwards. Most of us would rather avoid them at all costs.  

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Meltdowns are no more in a person’s control than epileptic fits  

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They are not tantrums, although they may look the same. They are very different and need to be handled very differently.

A tantrum is conscious, wilful behaviour that can be shaped with rewarding behaviours. A meltdown, on the other hand, is an unconscious response to overwhelming stimuli and cannot be shaped by rewarding behaviours. Meltdowns occur throughout the lifetime whereas tantrums generally occur in younger children.

Of course, autistic children can also have tantrums, so it is very important to recognise the difference and act accordingly. Treating a meltdown like a tantrum, by admonishing or punishing it, will just inflame the situation and harm the person.    

Shutdowns can occur for all the same reasons already mentioned. When we shutdown, we may appear to ‘switch ‘off’. We may withdraw and be unusually quiet - even temporarily losing the ability to speak. This can appear less dramatic or less obvious to the outside world than a meltdown but can be equally debilitating for us.

Autistic people may react to overwhelm in other ways. We may simply refuse to interact, or we may withdraw from challenging situations altogether. Remember, we are protecting ourselves, not being defiant or difficult.  

Meltdowns should never be punished. They are a sign of extreme distress, and we may not be able to completely avoid them. However, there is much that we and other people can do to remove triggers and the build-up of events that lead to them.

There is also much that those around us can do to support us through a meltdown or a shutdown. Small adjustments can really help us cope with our sensory issues and to make environments more friendly for autistic and non-autistic people alike.