Autism Shutdown/Nonverbal

I have Autism for those who do not know. I am one of the people who were diagnosed as an adult because it wasn’t noticeable as a child from me due to my ability to keep most social skills that society expects.

Most research was about boys, and those on the extreme end of spectrum who don’t function the same way others might. Unfortunately I also have ADHD, so my symptoms mimicked much of what people expect in Bipolar, BPD, etc. I was misdiagnosed with both of these.

Autism is no longer seen as black and white, but a spectrum. You can have people of all intelligence levels with it. The statement “he/she is too smart to have autism” is offensive and inaccurate. Many people who have autism have learned how to mask while excelling in life and becoming top achievers.

The problem is when too many variable enter into a persons space and feelings, it can overwhelm them and cause them to either meltdown or shutdown. Those are the 2 opposing sides with specifically AuDHD. Someone overstimulated, drained, or even hurt, will react in 1 of those ways. This can be physical or emotional.

Autistics who shutdown have reached a point their body and mind can’t keep going. It is not intentional, but rather a moment of freezing externally. It is impossible for them to speak literally except possibly the absolute necessary moments, and even that can stop happening.

What happens next? The physical comforts. Clothes, food, home/bedroom, people comforts. The things that regulate enough to slow down and reset. Also known as grounding, but with autism flare. But not much communication.

I can’t speak for all neurodivergent people. But this is a very similar experience for most of us with it.