Autism News Tagged "low arousal approaches"

What is an autistic shutdown?

An autistic shutdown differs from a meltdown. Meltdowns are expressed externally. Often confused with tantrums, they are a reaction to intense feelings of being overwhelmed, distressed, or dysregulated. The intense response of a meltdown causes an autistic person to temporarily lose all control of their behavior. An autistic shutdown is internal, a more muted response to extreme overload or stress.…

What is restraint collapse?

Restraint collapse, a phenomenon that is becoming more recognized in the neurodivergent community, happens when individuals who have been concealing or suppressing their neurodivergent characteristics for an extended period of time suddenly experience a significant breakdown in their ability to regulate emotions and cope with stressors. It may present as emotional outbursts, shutdowns, meltdowns, withdrawing, or physical symptoms like fatigue…