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If you’re anautisticperson, you already know that sensory input can quickly become overwhelming and hard to cope with. According to the diagnostic criteria, autistic people can have heightened responses to stimuli compared to neurotypical or non-autistic neurodivergent individuals. For example, a smell, sound, or light that someone who is not autistic might not even notice can be overwhelming to an autistic person.

Sometimes,sensory experiencescan become so intense that the autistic person has to mentally withdraw from their environment. If they are unable to leave the overstimulating space or regulate physically, they can become depleted and may experience a shutdown.

Luckily, if you learn the causes and warning signs for autistic shutdowns, it’ll become easier to prevent them and manage them when they do occur. Ideally this article can help you or an autistic loved one meet your sensory needs and offer support where needed.

What Does It Mean to Be Neurodivergent?

What Does an Autistic Shutdown Look Like?

As with all things, different autistic people’s shutdowns will vary and have different warning signs. However, there are some common traits that you can be aware of. If you experience autistic shutdowns, you can reflect on signs that came up prior to a shutdown (after you are fully regulated and out of the shutdown, of course). Noticing patterns can help you recognize when one might occur in the future and identify triggers to avoid or mitigate.

Possibly the biggest indicator that an autistic shutdown might be imminent is the feeling ofemotional overwhelmthat comes with being overstimulated. You might feel anxious or irritated. Behaviorally, you may start pulling back or physically trying to move away from the environmental triggers.

Mike L., anautisticindividual, shared that during shutdowns, “I still will lose theability to speak. It’s like my brain is racing through ideas I want to say, but I can’t find ways to make it make sense. They all get stuck like a bunch of people trying to walk out the door at the same time. That loop just won’t stop and gets worse the stronger I feel.“

Taylor, another autistic person, shared: “In a shutdown I suddenly can’t talk or move. It can look scary if you don’t know what’s happening.”

Ashley Cairns, licensed counselor and autistic adult, said: “I get quiet because it feels almost like the world is swirling around me. My heart rate increases, I get flush and just want comfort. I want to be home, safe in my comfort zone and away from whatever is triggering me.”

Shutdowns can also manifest physically. The autistic person might experience sudden exhaustion, loss of coordination, slowed movement, or loss of communication skills. You may feel physically numb or dissociate.

When an individual is experiencing a shutdown, they might flee the triggering situation or completely freeze, being unable to move or speak. They can withdraw both mentally and physically, with the specific behaviors varying based on the individual.

Causes and Triggers of Autistic Shutdowns

Triggers for autistic shutdowns vary based on the individual’s sensitivities and sensory needs. Two autistic people can have completely opposite responses to the same stimulus. As such, there is not one list of triggers or causes that encompasses every autistic experience. With that said, there are some common triggers that can increase the risk of a shutdown.

Mike L., an autistic personI still will lose theability to speak. It’s like my brain is racing through ideas I want to say, but I can’t find ways to make it make sense. They all get stuck like a bunch of people trying to walk out the door at the same time.

Mike L., an autistic person

I still will lose theability to speak. It’s like my brain is racing through ideas I want to say, but I can’t find ways to make it make sense. They all get stuck like a bunch of people trying to walk out the door at the same time.

Sensory input (sounds, smells, lights, textures, et cetera) can trigger a shutdown when the individual is particularly sensitive to that input. Unexpectedchanges or disruptions in routinecan bring on a shutdown as well.

Additionally, if the individual is under a higher-than-typical amount of stress, has not had sufficient rest, or is experiencing physical illness, they may have a lower threshold of tolerance for overwhelm. Intense emotional experiences can also be a trigger, like becoming upset during a disagreement.

Reducingtriggerscan reduce the chances that the autistic person will experience a shutdown. At the same time, it would be impossible to guarantee that there will be no unexpected schedule changes. Support and coping skills can alleviate overwhelm and reduce the impact of the shutdown.

The Impact of Autistic Shutdowns

Autistic shutdowns can significantly interfere with mental well-being and the ability to complete activities of daily living. When someone is in a shutdown, they may be fully unable to engage in coping skills or self-care behaviors.

In addition, if an individual experiences frequent shutdowns, they may be at increased risk forburnout. This is in part because exposure to the shutdown triggers wear the individual down over time, and because the experience of a shutdown is incredibly draining. According to Taylor, “It can take days to recover because [shutdowns are] exhausting.”

Ashley Cairns shared: “It’s embarrassing if I can be honest. People act like it’s a choice. Like the things that limit me are things I choose in life. Of course I don’t choose this. So know that I’m experiencing something absolutely horrifying and to be this vulnerable in front of others is a true act of courage.”

Ashley Cairns, counselor and autistic personIt’s embarrassing if I can be honest. People act like it’s a choice. Like the things that limit me are things I choose in life. Of course I don’t choose this.

Ashley Cairns, counselor and autistic person

It’s embarrassing if I can be honest. People act like it’s a choice. Like the things that limit me are things I choose in life. Of course I don’t choose this.

Shutdowns impact the individual’s skills in the moment and can wear them down in the long term, causing burnout episodes that cause skill loss and mental health issues including depression, anxiety, andsuicidal ideation.

Shutdowns vs. Meltdowns

Both shutdowns andmeltdownsare a response to sensory overwhelm and overstimulation.

While not a perfect analogy, meltdowns and shutdowns can be likened to thefight or flight response: when someone is backed into a corner, they may experience an automatic, involuntary physiological response that can cause them to either try to fight their way out of the situation or attempt to flee.

When someone is experiencing a meltdown, they may appear aggressive towards themselves, others, or property. During a meltdown, the autistic person is not in control and may do or say things that are out of character.

During a shutdown, on the other hand, they maywithdrawmentally or attempt to physically flee the environment. They might lose the ability to communicate in ways that normally work for them.

Coping Strategies for Autistic Shutdowns

Just like shutdown triggers vary based on individual needs, different autistic people will benefit from different coping strategies before, during, and after a shutdown.

However, some skills that might be beneficial include:

Additionally, steps for preventing a shutdown can include:

Supporting Autistic People During Shutdowns

Allyship from ournon-autistic loved onesis crucial for preventing and coping with shutdowns. First, of course, it is vital tolistento the autistic person you support and tailor your response based on what they specifically need and want.

Additional Resources

What ‘High-Functioning’ Autism Means?

3 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Keville S, Meek C, Ludlow AK.Mothers’ perspectives of co-occurring fatigue in children with autism spectrum disorders.Fatigue: Biomedicine, Health & Behavior. 2021;9(4):209-226.Raymaker DM, Teo AR, Steckler NA, et al.“Having all of your internal resources exhausted beyond measure and being left with no clean-up crew”: defining autistic burnout.Autism in Adulthood. 2020;2(2):132-143.Phung J, Penner M, Pirlot C, Welch C.What i wish you knew: insights on burnout, inertia, meltdown, and shutdown from autistic youth.Front Psychol. 2021;12:741421.

3 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Keville S, Meek C, Ludlow AK.Mothers’ perspectives of co-occurring fatigue in children with autism spectrum disorders.Fatigue: Biomedicine, Health & Behavior. 2021;9(4):209-226.Raymaker DM, Teo AR, Steckler NA, et al.“Having all of your internal resources exhausted beyond measure and being left with no clean-up crew”: defining autistic burnout.Autism in Adulthood. 2020;2(2):132-143.Phung J, Penner M, Pirlot C, Welch C.What i wish you knew: insights on burnout, inertia, meltdown, and shutdown from autistic youth.Front Psychol. 2021;12:741421.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Keville S, Meek C, Ludlow AK.Mothers’ perspectives of co-occurring fatigue in children with autism spectrum disorders.Fatigue: Biomedicine, Health & Behavior. 2021;9(4):209-226.Raymaker DM, Teo AR, Steckler NA, et al.“Having all of your internal resources exhausted beyond measure and being left with no clean-up crew”: defining autistic burnout.Autism in Adulthood. 2020;2(2):132-143.Phung J, Penner M, Pirlot C, Welch C.What i wish you knew: insights on burnout, inertia, meltdown, and shutdown from autistic youth.Front Psychol. 2021;12:741421.

Keville S, Meek C, Ludlow AK.Mothers’ perspectives of co-occurring fatigue in children with autism spectrum disorders.Fatigue: Biomedicine, Health & Behavior. 2021;9(4):209-226.

Raymaker DM, Teo AR, Steckler NA, et al.“Having all of your internal resources exhausted beyond measure and being left with no clean-up crew”: defining autistic burnout.Autism in Adulthood. 2020;2(2):132-143.

Phung J, Penner M, Pirlot C, Welch C.What i wish you knew: insights on burnout, inertia, meltdown, and shutdown from autistic youth.Front Psychol. 2021;12:741421.

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