![]() Shutdowns and Work BurnoutĪutistic adults working a difficult job might not feel able to shutdown, which leads to emotional damage in the form of Autistic burnout.Īutistic or Neurodivergent Burnout happens after a prolonged period of stress. The misunderstanding of shutdowns specifically can cause great stress to an Autistic Adult. And when they can’t endure, boy do people have lots of opinions – most of them negative. Mainly due to misunderstanding of Neurodivergence.Īdults are expected to endure a lot. Shutdowns Present Unique Challenges for Autistic AdultsĪs I mentioned in our Neurodivergent Meltdown Guide, adults who experience shutdowns face some unique challenges. If you’re consistently having shutdowns that last a long while or shutdowns that often turn into meltdowns, that may mean a change of environment and stressors are needed. ![]() ![]() How so? Meltdowns are an incredibly vulnerable state for any Neurodivergent and can lead to increased black and white thinking, intense negative self talk, and even suicide. Classic therapy techniques should not be attempted during this time as they 1.) won’t have any effect and 2.) can be really harmful. Mental health treatments/therapies that are not neuro-informed can cause meltdowns by pressuring the Autistic patient while they are in shutdown mode. In essence, Shutdowns are a coping tool many Autistics use to circumvent painful meltdowns and preserve their mental health. Add in outside pressure in the form of expectations and daily demands and you have a recipe for a meltdown. As you can imagine, this is all really exhausting. Cataloging, searching for patterns, rehearsing social scripts, remembering to mask, you name it. Most of the time, Autistic brains are on overdrive. They provide a deep rest and reset for Autistic brains which is essential to their mental health. What do Shutdowns have to do with Neurodivergent Mental Health?Īutistic shutdowns are an escape from overthinking. From the outside, behavior may seem unrecognizable-like you’re a different person.Difficulty forming thoughts or no thoughts at all.Robotic body movements if movement can happen at all.Since no two Autistics are the same, Autistic shutdowns can look different from person to person. Overwhelm due to Pathological Demand Avoidance.Being rushed to make a decision (feeling cornered).Not having enough time to process difficult topics.Some common causes of an Autistic shutdown: We’ll talk more about that in the coming sections. While some can view this process as negative, Autistic shutdowns can serve an important function in protecting a Neurodivergent’s mental health. Some Autistics know when a shutdown is coming on while others only realize it in the midst of the shutdown. It happens when an Autistic is emotionally or sensorily overwhelmed and they need to reset and protect their mind. During this mode you may have little to no energy, dissociation from thoughts and feelings, and an intense need to be alone. Some Autistics refer to it like “sleep” mode on a computer. Shutdowns are a unique experience when an Autistic becomes overwhelmed and goes into a mental “shutdown” mode. ![]() In fact, they may be critical to your mental health! Read on to find out more. If they’re something you experience, just know they’re definitely nothing to be ashamed of. ![]()
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