Asperger for Dummies: Having a Meltdown (Explanation)

[lauraps2]

@foodgrin Bravo!

[schlachthauz]

funny analogy, as I often have meltdowns during interactions with water such as washing dishes or bathing. I make sounds like a demon and punch cabinets and walls, and I am an adult! It seems to get worse as I get older trying to break out of this introversion more and more desperately.

[JoyceLynne1]

This is very informative and well put together. I can totally relate, having Asperger's.

[19alba87]

I think the pizza needs some "hopelessness"

[aspergerfordummies]

@1Vexx Sometimes you have to separate yourself from your behavior and take a look at why you are behaving like that. You have to learn to accept that some of your behavior is in fact not because of who you are but because of your autism (presuming you're autistic). This does not mean you can't do something about the problem, there are ways to work around it, but acceptance is a good start.

[aspergerfordummies]

@1Vexx Yes, sometimes I also feel panic when having a meltdown, I think it's because something is bothering you yet you have no idea how to stop it, which leads into some kind of anger because you get irritated that you can't do a thing about it. At those times I always wonder, why the f**** me!? I hope you get your answers, it feels so much better to know the reason why you do and feel certain things.

[Astronautical123]

i hate when that happens to me

[lu4y4pants]

@Hellfighter762 What it feels like, well, it's hard to explain. I'm a girl, and I'll say it's worse than PMS. You feel like you can't control yourself. For me, the meltdowns are mostly wanting to destroy anything I see. I kicked a hole in the hallway wall during a meltdown once, and I destroyed other things in my room. I often have one when I'm stressed, lonely, ashamed, angry, or frustrated. They last from mere seconds to over an hour for me. I hope iI was informative.

[luvmunky05]

I always want to throw glass just to hear it shatter when I have meltdowns

[PeaceMouse17]

Thank you for posting this- this is something I would want to show my BF to show him why I feel the way I do when I have a Meltdown. I have not been diagnosed(that I know of yet) with Aspergers, but I am 22 and still have the meltdowns and really bad social interaction because I'm "socially awkward" as everyone has to point out- this is one of the best videos to describe it though.

[loneshewolf74]

Shortly before being diagnosed with Asperger's in 2001 my meltdowns or "behavioral outbursts" as the staff in the homes called them, started getting really out of control and I ended up being kicked out and left alone in the hospital just before Christmas. I hate all the staff, shrinks and so-called professionals who thought I was a spoiled and mentally retarded,  put me on horrible medications, and forced me to live with people with chronic mental illness. I wish I could sue them all. >:(

[JustEmbers]

Thank you for explaining my freakouts (aka meltdowns).

[JustEmbers]

@xXTempsXx SOOooo true. They don't always see anything at first; when all they see is the surface, the image projected, they may think that at most you're a bit eccentric (and in a "good way"). Once they get to know you at all, it becomes clear that there is something VERY different (even if they don't have a name for what that is).

[JustEmbers]

Had a massive meltdown today (am an Aspie-- Dx'd). Posted a video about it. This video helps me feel like I'm not a crazy psycho. Thanks. Always come back to this after a meltdown; makes me feel less alone.

[bamned1992]

Great vid!

[aishakafeel]

@QstickMadness Is it that bad? ;-( I had no idea. I am not able to do anything like that. Also, many ''typical'' Asperger's symptoms just don't apply to me, yet I find another things that I have in common with the Asperger's people... ;* I don't think so I have it, but I wonder what if I did actually have it... Anyways, I have a friend with diagnosed Asperger's syndrome but she's able to control her emotions very well. ;*

[aishakafeel]

But basically,it's because I actually can waste a whole hour to write a perfect speech and then,it's lost and I can't re-write it again from my memory,I don't have a computer in my brain...lol;P

[aishakafeel]

I like the video and the way it's presented,but it makes me believe I have Asperger's,as I get really furious and frustrated over life when Internet connection goes off or when having trouble with the computer,especially if I loose something important that I was working on-which happens to me quite often...;/-

[gijose95]

i too also have aspergers, but whatever happens don't try getting a meltdown in a library or a military instillation because you will emberass yourself in front of so many people(this almost happened to me once at a navy base)

[TheBeatlesFan420]

NT's are usually the cause for me, so I will only hang out with other aspies or the very few NT's who are not vindictive as hell.

[strobelightt]

somebody PLEASE tell me the song that comes in at 0.43?

ive been trying to find the song for over 3 months

[1andrewman1]

i have aspergers, i cant communicate with other people good atol, how can i be helped

[momofasperger]

Oh wow! That is the best ever information I have recieved yet. I realize I may have it too. I know my son has Aspergers, and I've often wondered if I did. This video describes me. Thank you for the wonderful video.

[dilcofilms]

We aspies have a lot of bipolar characteristics. I often have a lot of melt downs at school and it makes me look like an ass hole, even though I have been taught not to curse, I still do, last week I got in trouble for saying "fuck you" to a girl that in my opinion is a real slut.

[rockerdriver]

I was diagnosed with PDD NOS in 1992 when I was 17. I think it's Asperger"s because we didn't know that term then.I tend to have trouble understanding "jokes" where I'm being made fun of and end up verbaly lashing out at the person who started it and then they say " Can't you take a joke?" I'm not the only person who doesn't think that's funny am I? Is it my fault I verbally lash out at the person?

[JustEmbers]

@rockerdriver OMG That has always been me! Was Dx'd 6-7 months ago as AS. Could never tell when people where being friendly and just joking vs. bullying (which I had A LOT of growing up).

[Jaket2000]

Well they think I got asperghers sence I do got allot of "symptoms" which is a joke due to it being a spectrum disorder. But I gone relaxed to full on rage in the space of a second. I had a headache and I punched a window out.

[jetmoo]

thanks making that. that makes sense

[alwaysbeautiful123]

awww this is so sad :( I think my 4 year old daughter has this. When people say hi to her she never responds to them, but when she says hi to other people she gets on their face pissing people off. I'm affraid to go out with her. It's so stressing even when we go to b-day parties, if something doesn't go her way she'll cry as if it were the end of the world. I try to help her understand and learn but she acts like a 2 year old

[milascave]

If it were more aceptable for boys/men to cry we could express our pain and frustration more directly instead of lashing out in rage. Regardless, unless you are in en evnironment where it is physicaly unsafe to cry, I think that is a bteer way to do it.

[christest15]

I stutter so I can relate to a hidden disability.  I have a good friend who is an aspie. I do what I can to help avoid meltdowns. It usually just involves letting him have his way and following his rules. Not an easy thing to do 100 percent of the time but what other choice do you have. It's either that or deal with a seemingly non-stop meltdown.

[Annickburns]

This really describes my son when he has a 'meltdown', often it comes out to others as an 'unreasonable reaction' but if they could see the overflowing bucket (say in a nightmare) that keeps overflowing and you have nothing or no idea to stop it, I think they would get rather agitated....what if you can't wake yourself up!!!!

Well done for explaining it in this fashion....

[aspieraver]

Thanks to the internet, i found out that i have aspergers!

[2xhonorrolestudent]

I thought I had anger issues that could be corrected with psyc stuff. I thought I was a bad person. I thought I was just a real waste of space. It is videos like this that help validate us who suffer and you have no idea how relieved ZI feel. I want to pay this favor forward, and through my college at Ashford, University, I will. Chrissi (Typed by Jon because Chrissi broke her hand).

[JustEmbers]

@2xhonorrolestudent I felt those ways about myself for almost 33 years. I finally have a Dx (AS) and am starting to realize I'm not a worthless "waste of space." I've struggled with thinking that the right therapy could "fix me," but having AS, I'm learning that "fixing me" isn't the issue. I'll always have AS. I need to learn how to cope with having it.

[OrangeCourage1]

I'm having a meltdown right now because of how much this freakin video makes sense....only i think its a good kind of meltdown XD

[aspergerfordummies]

@OrangeCourage1 I'm glad I could help you clear things up for a bit. (Try not the break anything or I might feel guilty about XD)

[OrangeCourage1]

@aspergerfordummies the only thing I really ever break is pencils whenb i am pissed. and plates by accident...that makes me madder than

[OrangeCourage1]

@aspergerfordummies I have only broken pencils and wanted to throw things when Iam pissed. But really, the only thing I break are plates...by accident. Which frsutrates the hell outta me

[OrangeCourage1]

@aspergerfordummies heh heh...spainish accent...oh, sry...that was random XD

[krstcmjns]

@OrangeCourage1 huhuhu I freak out when I find music that I like :)

[OrangeCourage1]

@krstcmjns LOL

[krstcmjns]

@OrangeCourage1 Shut up. If you had a limited- or telescopic-imagination... than you would get excited about something you like like a crack addict needs his crack. Bitch :P

[OrangeCourage1]

omg...that totally explains why Ihave meltdowns when I'm lonely...i knew it was somethin =/ loneliness kills me...

[IThinkdoU]

Nicely explained. I think non-aspies will be able to relate :0)

[PinkPunkyKat]

Can you cover special intrests/obsessions.

[aspergerfordummies]

@PinkPunkyKat Sounds like a good topic.

[PinkPunkyKat]

Rage and meltdowns are two diffrent things for me.

[dlschweppe]

Mulberrybear, It's real. I know. My son is affected.... And so am I. I assume that you think cancer is such a joke; diabetes is such a joke; high chholesterol is such a joke; ignorance is such a joke. Frankly, you're such a joke nimwit!

[mulberrybear]

I'm sorry but asperger's is such a joke. People feel an overpowering need to label everything these days, including their sense of alienation and maladjustment to society. That is why asperger's has grown into such a phenomenon. It provides an apparently "scientific" explanation for feeling like a deviant in the modern world.

[aspergerfordummies]

@mulberrybear I agree with your comment on todays label culture, sure a lot of people hide behind some kind of label. However, there has been a lot of scientifically research done about Aspergers Syndrome, there is so much more going on than just 'feeling different' or having a low selfesteem. For expample, aspies have a hard time reading body Language, that is why they aren't as good in socializing as NT's are. I suggest, doing some more research, before making comments such as this one...

[foodgrin]

I'd say that for every person with aspergers syndrome there are 20 NTs that post a bunch of crap about how they think it is not a real disorder. Perhaps it is your way of feeling like you are superior in some way. I think you are just overly happy that you are a dim wit like most people and enjoy making life hell for those who can't help the way they are. You probably have problems of your own and it makes you feel better saying that a documented neurological condition does not exist.

[lu4y4pants]

My meltdowns might be disturbing to neurotypicals. I start insulting the people who annoy me, I throw things, hit things, swear, and break down crying. I think most people think it's PMS, so they do nothing about it.

[silentdream78]

Very good explanation simple for people who don't know to understand. Thank you.

[Yazdmich]

i usually have silent meltdowns (pulling my hair, visualizing throwing objects and flipping tables and desks) and sometimes a grunt or whimper comes out.

[jaydahsxcreator]

I'm one of the quiet types. It's probably better that way. When I get mad, and I really DO snap, I'm a total monster.

[AbsolutelyCrackers]

I like the vid :) It's very informative

[delivermypain]

lol, which type ARE you then? :P

the one that starts screaming or throwing ;)

[aspergerfordummies]

Well it depends, sometimes I feel the need to curse a lot when something isn't working (pc) or is not going as planned. That's more like 3/4 of the bucket full.

When the bucket is completely full I do feel the urge to throw/destroy stuff :P But I found a save way to get rid of the feeling. (Smashing with a paper on a table.)