Young girl raising her hand in a classroom

Meltdown

The autistic kids and youth who helped us make this guide all said that meltdowns are a big deal for them.

A meltdown can happen when you feel overwhelmed, either as a sudden response to something happening or from a buildup of stress.¹

Watch a video on "Meltdown"

Why do I have meltdowns?

Many things can cause a meltdown, like social demands (having to deal with people in a situation that is not easy or comfortable), frustration, embarrassment, challenges with communication, emotional triggers, and overwhelming sensations.¹

Sometimes meltdowns are predictable (going into a situation that has caused a meltdown before), or they happen unexpectedly (a change in plans that you were not expecting). The combination of built-up stress, as well as feeling tired from everyday tasks or activities can also lead to a meltdown.²

Two young students doing schoolwork at their desk while the teacher helps

It’s important to remember, meltdowns might look different for you depending on the day and the situation or environment you are in.

When a meltdown is happening, it can be hard to tell other people exactly how you’re feeling, which is totally okay! That is why using this guide to think and talk about meltdowns at a time when you are calm, can help you and the important people in your life better understand and prepare when meltdowns occur.

When having a meltdown, you might feel...

Anxious
Angry
Frustrated
Upset
Panic
Worried

Mad
Energy outpour
A loss of control
Fast breathing
Triggered
The need to escape the situation

A big part of having a meltdown is feeling out of control.²

Some of the youth who helped make this guide said “It’s like you’re a passenger on a train that’s bound for destruction” or like having a “shattered mind”- like your brain is a piece of glass that’s been dropped on the floor.

What does a meltdown feel and look like?

Your body might feel…

Hot
Tense
Numb
Blurry vision or “tunnel” vision
Like something is “bubbling inside of you”

You may do things you do not normally do…

The autistic youth who helped make this guide say that when they are having a meltdown, they do things that they normally would not do - which is why they feel out of control!

Common things that people do in a meltdown are…

Yelling
Screaming
Crying
Throwing/kicking/hitting

When a meltdown is over, it is often followed by feelings of guilt, shame, feeling sorry, and embarrassment, especially if it happened at school or another public place.

You might find it hard to remember what happened during a meltdown, which can make it even harder to understand or explain. It also can be tricky to think clearly or think ahead when a meltdown is taking place.

Finally, you might feel a different emotion every time a meltdown ends, depending on what started it. This might be frustrating as it makes it hard to predict your feelings or help other people understand your feelings.

Watch a video explaining "Autistic Meltdown"...

Download and create your own "Meltdown" plan

We hope that working through this handout will help you tell important adults in your life about your experiences and create a plan. This plan can be put into action at school, home or anywhere else that you might find helpful.

Download the handout

References

1. Phung, J., Penner, M., Pirlot, C., & Welch, C. (2021). What I Wish You Knew: Insights on Burnout, Inertia, Meltdown, and Shutdown From Autistic Youth. Frontiers in Psychology, 21. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.741421

2. Welch, C., Cameron, D., Fitch, M., & Polatajko, H. (2021). Living in autistic bodies: Bloggers discuss movement control and arousal regulation. Disability and Rehabilitation, 43(22), 3159-3167. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2020.1729872