Physiological effects of shutdowns/meltdowns

[daniegirl6224]

I watched a really good autism video yesterday! Key takeaways:

I need predictability that makes me feel safe. If I do not know what is going to happen, I feel unsafe and it can trigger autistic episodes.

Meltdowns and shutdowns affect the following:
Pharynx/larynx, making it so I basically cannot talk, and when I can talk it is monotone
Facial muscles, making it so I have no facial expression
Middle ear, making it hard to hear voices and making background noise too loud


Feels so good knowing that there are actual physiological reasons for my symptoms!

 

[Neonatal RRT]

Thanks!

I am thinking, even as a baseline, I find it difficult to talk in anything but monotone (with slight increases and decreases in pitch and volume). If I am in a situation where I am attempting to sing, match a certain tone, or open up my voice to speak loudly, I will go into laryngeal spasm. I've even had it happen during my lectures. It sucks.

The general lack of facial muscle activation is common enough that, in some cases, if you know what to look for, you can actually "look autistic". I know there was a thread on here about it. Someone will post a photo, and I am like, "Oh yeah, a brother from a different mother." LOL! (I have to have a sense of humor about it) I hate photos or videos of myself. Definitely not photogenic because of this. Even if I try really hard to smile, it comes out looking "flat" and "fake".

I can't say that I've had the middle ear symptoms, though. I do have chronic tinnitus, 3-5 high-pitched tones coming from my brain, not from my ears.

 

[Jumpinbare]

I can't say that I've had the middle ear symptoms, though. I do have chronic tinnitus, 3-5 high-pitched tones coming from my brain, not from my ears.

I feel lucky now. I only have 2 tones. The left side is a little higher pitched both around 6 KHz .

 

[vergil96]

The body tends to shut off non-essential function when in perceived danger or lack of resources. Not a new notion in psychiatry and medicine in general.