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Is this a shutdown?

Little_Owl

Hi All, I'm new here. I was diagnosed autistic last year and I am also considering getting an ADHD assessment as I suspect I am AuDHD.

I wondered if I am having shutdowns. I always put this down to depression or just plain laziness but I am beginning to wonder if they are shutdowns. These symptoms happen if I get too overwhelmed by sensory stuff or I have spent a lot of time trying to do things that I don't really want to do (I think of this as trying to reign-in my brain cells - I think of my brain as being a bit like a herd of wild horses all wanting to go in different directions and, if I need to work, I have to control the wild horses and make them move steadily in the same direction, it's exhausting!). The symptoms are as follows: almost an inability to move - I can move but I really, really don't want to, staring at a fixed point like part of a leaf or stone on the floor, feeling completely disconnected or dissociated from the world, speaking slowly or in a monotone voice or not feeling able to speak at all (I can speak but it would be really difficult). Is this a shutdown? Is there anything I can do to stop them or come out of them quicker? They are really distressing and embarrassing. I usually have a meltdown shortly afterwards.

Thanks for reading my rather long post!

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Comments

Little_Owl

Thanks. It's helpful to know what I'm dealing with. I would really like to stop having them as often as I do.

Albus_Alumni

That certainly sounds like a shut down, but please dont feel embarrassed by them, they unfortunately happen to us autistic folk. I've found the best way to stop a shut down is to learn to notice the warning signs, prevention is better than cure as the saying goes. The best thing you can do is just be gentle with yourself, often the added stress will make it last longer.

Little_Owl

Thanks! I guess I find them embarrassing because they can happen in public places. I had one in the middle of town yesterday! I know to a certain extent what causes them but I can't avoid the triggers a lot of the time (one of the problems is simply trying to focus at work or keep on top of the housework at home, my body and brain just wants to sleep and daydream continuously so I have to force it to do what I want it to do so that I can function as a human!) and sometimes the shutdown happens with little or no warning.