#tho i do still get overloaded sometimes usually i just put on headphones and watch/listen to calming stuff with a stim toy

[femmeboyhooters]

This morning i realized i am in fact still very much autistic

#i avoid negative sensory stimuli and things that can cause upset but this morning my husband got breakfast started and had #the kettle and pan on the wrong sides to each other and i became very upset for a moment lol #just like me thinking i no longer have anxiety like bish no you just don't leave the house #also my husband got me a pop-it this week and i fucking love that thing #forget i can stim with actual stim things even tho i have a whole ass collection nd i don't need to stim with tools #or passive items in my environment #also wear only senory friendly clothing #and stim constantly when i do leave the house #hehe i just forget i have the tism #and everyone i spend time around is super accomodating #tho i do still get overloaded sometimes usually i just put on headphones and watch/listen to calming stuff with a stim toy #burried under blamkets #my dog knows too bc any time i start to get overwhelmed in any way he lays on me for deep pressure #my txt

[matoitech]

hope its okay to ask, but do you know any tips or resources on preventing autism meltdowns/shutdowns?

i cant think of any specific resource w good info right now unfortunately but heres some stuff i do. also these r kinda for like the As Ur Feeling It Build Up to where its getting intolerable stage so if u meant just like in general i can try to help w that instead but here goes, some things i do to help cope n prevent stuff

if its possible and ur in enough control of ur body, remove urself from the ppl or situation ur in- if ur around ppl just stepping away to b by urself for a bit can help u feel a little better, or at least a little Less bad. outside, into another room, just another place where u dont have the added stressors of noise and masking and whatnot

try to reduce how much sensory input ur getting- if u need sunglasses, headphones, stim toys, pressure/weight, etc, use or try that if its safe to. sometimes ur body can be overwhelmed by something u cant consciously notice, like electricity humming in the wall + bright lights + traffic + ppls voices + ur clothes r rly uncomfortable, etc, so things like turning off lights and such to see what makes u feel more physically comfortable can b helpful (if u can)

and/or you may be thirsty, tired, hungry, emotional, etc and ur not getting the signals for that so ur body is showing its discomfort or upset in other ways. u may need to change into more comfortable clothes, go to the bathroom, eat something, etc. checking w ur body (and emotional state) can help prevent meltdowns/shutdowns or prepare for them. this stuff can b difficult to try and figure out tho so dont put urself down if u still end up having a meltdown or shutdown, ur body gets overwhelmed and sometimes i have not found another way to direct it than to sleep it off for a while. it sucks and its painful but if ur exhausted u might just need it :(

drinking water, listening to relaxing music, doing breathing exercises, and other things can help 4 me. usual ‘calming’ techniques might not help u feel physically better but can help center u a bit to feel less agonized

if ur safe to do so, try stimming if u can? sometimes ur instinct can be to tense up and shut down, but if its possible and doesnt make u feel worse, stimming can help- even just watching a rythmic gif or smth can help. sometimes ive noticed i feel rly bad like im gonna shutdown or im really twitchy and all over the place but then i realize i havent been stimming enough and that helps. if it doesnt help then u dont have to continue it, sometimes u just need to lie down unmoving in the dark for a while. when i need to shutdown thats generally what i do and i dont have any tips for preventing it when u get to that stage bc sometimes u just gotta reset i think

i would def suggest trying to chill out alone tho cuz ik not everyones like that, some ppl need like physical comfort from other ppl when theyre in shutdown mode, but at least 4 me it helps to just lie down under a bunch of blankets in the dark for a few hours

distractions can also help if just lying there bores u lol, test out what makes u feel ok (doin smth quiet w ur hands is usually good) and what u r not a fan of

most of this stuff was more for shutdowns but can still b applicable to meltdowns, but more meltdown specific, b4 i meltdown im rly prickly (emotionally) and have a lot of scattered shaky energy bc its usually caused by emotional overload so pacing and body stimming can help a lot 4 me at least to try n get that level. its better to direct the energy somewhere else instead of @ another person generally lol

uhh if anyone has any tips feel free to suggest stuff cuz i am scattered rn and can only think of a couple things!

#hope any of this helps anon.. i went in2 some tags 2 try n find stuff n couldnt tho i KNOW ive seen posts abt it b4. hmm #anon #fess replies