#autchat Transcript

Healthcare social media transcript of the #autchat hashtag.
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See #autchat Influencers/Analytics.

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#AutChat mod @autchatmod
Welcome to #AutChat, a weekly chat for autistic & similar people Sundays 9pm UTC / 9pm GMT / 4pm EST! https://t.co/rRrhi8Ysri #AutChat hosts chats on topics related to our experiences as neurodivergent people. See our past topics here: https://t.co/F56bZKXGAW
#AutChat mod @autchatmod
#AutChat is a tag for autistic people & "autistic cousins" (people with similar experiences due to hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, ADHD, etc). We welcome autistic/similar people whether formally diagnosed, self-dx'd, or questioning/wondering if they are autistic/similar.
#AutChat mod @autchatmod
We post transcripts of the weekly chats to our website, https://t.co/QrdW2e85Ey. We link to them on the #AutChat tag and on our Facebook page. Transcripts are created with Wakelet, and are visible there and on our site.
#AutChat mod @autchatmod
Other people can post, retweet, or share any of our posts or links. This includes our tweets, our Facebook posts, links to our website, and links to Wakelet. If you want your tweets excluded from future #AutChat transcripts, DM us.
#AutChat mod @autchatmod
For #AutChat announcements and weekly questions, follow this account. DM us to request reminder tweets (we get a lot of notifications during AutChat and sometimes don’t see replies). How to participate in #AutChat and other twitter chats: https://t.co/SkuXgvACRk
#AutChat mod @autchatmod
Questions are prefaced Q0, Q1, Q2, etc. When you reply, preface tweets with A0, A1, etc & include "#AutChat" so others see them! Please capitalize it as #AutChat to make it more accessible to screenreaders.
#AutChat mod @autchatmod
Quick reference for this week's #AutChat questions (please wait till they're tweeted to answer): https://t.co/Ynmz3imj5C Thanks to @fragileannie for writing these questions.
#AutChat mod @autchatmod
Q0: Introduce yourself! Say anything you like about yourself or your interest in #AutChat or in today's topic, meltdowns.
SugarCunt@Mastodon.LOL (they) 🔞♿ @SugarCunt
RT @autchatmod: Quick reference for this week's #AutChat questions (please wait till they're tweeted to answer): Quick reference for this week's #AutChat questions (please wait till they're tweeted to answer): https://t.co/Ynmz3imj5C Thanks to @fragileannie for writing these questions.
#AutChat mod @autchatmod
Q1: Do you have meltdowns as an adult? Can you see them coming/hold them in until in a safe place? Are there any typical triggers? #AutChat
Aria Sky @mamautistic36
A0: I'm Aria, mid-30s, USian, Autistic -- so much experience with meltdowns, unfortunately! #autchat
Aria Sky @mamautistic36
A1: I do have meltdowns as an adult. I can sometimes feel them coming and I can usually hold them in until I'm in a safe place. Being misunderstood and/or misrepresented by others is probably my most consistent trigger followed by sensory overwhelm. #autchat
Aria Sky @mamautistic36
A1.2: I very often feel like running away and never coming back EVER when I'm melting down too. #autchat https://t.co/DeF7wf47Yn
Aria Sky @mamautistic36
Which honestly probably helps me get to a safer place quickly when one starts coming on. But I do still often feel like running away even once I'm in a safe place. Mostly it feels like there are no safe places during a meltdown. #autchat
#AutChat mod @autchatmod
Q2: How do your adult meltdowns differ from those as a child? What similarities are presented? Are they more internal or external? #AutChat
Aria Sky @mamautistic36
A2.1: As an adult I find it easier to get away from other people before melting down so I'm better able to hide meltdowns. I have more control over when they hit and more control over my external reaction. To a point, at least. #autchat
Aria Sky @mamautistic36
A2.2: Once it's past the point where I can control it much, it can get bad. If I'm around other people then I will say anything to get them to let me leave or to make them leave, but I don't physically attack anyone the way I sometimes did as a child. #autchat
Nancy Delapenha @Deedeenkd
@autchatmod A0: Hello all! I'm Nancy. I was assessed for Autism when I was around 3 (circa 1972) at UCLA, but was not diagnosed. I just got diagnosed this past July. #AutChat
Aria Sky @mamautistic36
CW: self-harm A2.3: Well, scratch that not physically attacking bit. I do still physically attack myself sometimes, but not other people. I've gotten very good over the years at turning meltdowns inward towards myself instead of outwards towards others. #autchat
Aria Sky @mamautistic36
CW: self-harm A2.4: Which isn't a GOOD thing necessarily, but I'd rather hurt myself than others if someone is going to get hurt. At least I kind of have to forgive myself while others misunderstand and never speak to me again if I hurt them. #autchat
Darla @basicnbizarre
@autchatmod A0 #autchat I'm Derek, I am 34, #actuallyautistic, and I have been dealing with meltdowns my whole life.
Darla @basicnbizarre
@autchatmod A1 #autchat I absolutely have meltdowns as an adult. They feel like something building up inside, it feels like how a pot about to boil over looks. If I work hard I can hold them in and try to get to a secluded area to let them out. (1/2)
Darla @basicnbizarre
@autchatmod A1 #autchat (2/2) Typical triggers can be situational, emotional, or sensory. The emotions don't even have to be bad; I have had meltdowns from getting too happy.
Darla @basicnbizarre
@autchatmod A2 #autchat My meltdowns now are much more internal and self directed than when I was a child. As an adult I might swear or scream, have some very aggressive flapping, sometimes hit myself. As a child I would scream, hit other people, flip tables, rip things apart, and run away.
Aria Sky @mamautistic36
@endeverstar CW: physical punishment of child I definitely have more meltdowns as an adult than I did as a child. I was spanked as a child, which added stress, and also made it necessary for me to suppress emotions and meltdowns. #autchat
#AutChat mod @autchatmod
Q3: What kind of comments have you heard from others (family/strangers) regarding your meltdowns? How do you explain to witnesses? #AutChat
Aria Sky @mamautistic36
A3: I try for there not to be any witnesses. If there are then I tend to become very withdrawn and just tell people I'm overwhelmed and then they leave me alone. I've not noticed any comments really. Mostly I have to stay self-focused during meltdowns. #autchat
Darla @basicnbizarre
@autchatmod A3 #autchat What comments HAVEN'T I heard? "You're not helping", "You should just calm down", "There's no need to get so worked up", "I don't understand why you're freaking out", and plenty of insults as well. I don't really know how to describe it to bystanders.
Aria Sky @mamautistic36
A3.3: I didn't hear any comments from them -- instead they went off and talked about me behind my back. They were not safe for me to be around and I should have listened to my gut about that, not to their words. #autchat
Aria Sky @mamautistic36
A3.2: I recently lost some friends who claimed they were safe for me to be around when I was struggling and melting down. They weren't safe, at all. I won't make that mistake again. #autchat
Solveig ⚧ - Autistic Acceptance Worldwide @autisticb4mmr
Hello, I am Solveig! I have many years of experience having meltdowns! 😅 #autchat A0
Solveig ⚧ - Autistic Acceptance Worldwide @autisticb4mmr
@endeverstar Same -- I think shutdowns are more common for me than meltdowns. #autchat
Aria Sky @mamautistic36
Oh goodness. I have plenty of internal comments when I'm melting down. Horrible things, abusive things that I tell myself the entire time. Maybe they're from things people said during past meltdowns that I've internalized but don't explicitly remember??? #autchat
Solveig ⚧ - Autistic Acceptance Worldwide @autisticb4mmr
Otherwise I pretend I need the loo really urgently, and I take my time as soon as I'm closed up in the stall. I haven't really figured out any other way to deal with it. #autchat A1
Solveig ⚧ - Autistic Acceptance Worldwide @autisticb4mmr
It depends on what kind of meltdown we're talking about, I think -- though I haven't really put much thought into how I would classify the different ones yet. Sometimes I feel dizzy. Sometimes I feel super overloaded and need to escape. #autchat A1
Solveig ⚧ - Autistic Acceptance Worldwide @autisticb4mmr
Can I see them coming and hold them in until a safe place? Sometimes I do feel them coming on, but sometimes there's literally no way out -- so the best way is to try to redirect it into a shutdown. Which sometimes works. Sometimes not. #autchat A1
#AutChat mod @autchatmod
Q4: How long do your meltdowns typically last? How do you calm yourself down and care for yourself following a meltdown situation? #AutChat
Solveig ⚧ - Autistic Acceptance Worldwide @autisticb4mmr
@endeverstar Oh jeez, invalidation is my #1 trigger for meltdowns :O #autchat A1
Solveig ⚧ - Autistic Acceptance Worldwide @autisticb4mmr
@mamautistic36 Do you ever daydream about the places you'll forever run away to? Because I certainly do. #autchat
Darla @basicnbizarre
@autchatmod A4 #autchat It depends. Typically 5-10 minutes for the worst bits, though after a meltdown I am generally very anxious and emotionally fragile and it can take longer to calm down from that than the physical meltdown itself. I do a lot of breathing, and often will just walk away
Aria Sky @mamautistic36
A4: I'm not sure there is a typical amount of time. I've melted down for a few minutes and also for several weeks. Mostly I sleep afterwards. A lot. Watching "light" shows, reading Young Adult or Middle Grade novels, and journaling help too. Also playing piano. #autchat
CLE change the world @Bluebirdlouise
tfw you forget how hashtags work then suddenly remember again.. ‘if only there was a way to view all the tweets by people tweeting about #autchat. oh, wait... ‘
Solveig ⚧ - Autistic Acceptance Worldwide @autisticb4mmr
Because when people look at me and try to name my emotions, they get it wrong. And that leads to frustration which leads to meltdown, and... As an adult, I don't see this type of meltdown happening nearly as much. Where I'm just lost in nameless emotion. #autchat A2
Solveig ⚧ - Autistic Acceptance Worldwide @autisticb4mmr
[cn:aba] I think the biggest difference between my meltdowns now and ones I had as a child had more to do with what tools I have now and what I had back then. Or rather, didn't have. It's not just a matter of being able to check in with myself emotionally, though. #autchat A2
Solveig ⚧ - Autistic Acceptance Worldwide @autisticb4mmr
[cn:aba] I think there was this insistence that I remain super-exposed to things that stress me out, as if that were going to make me more emotionally resilient or something. As an adult, learning that you're allowed to step out for a bit? That's been great! #autchat A2
Solveig ⚧ - Autistic Acceptance Worldwide @autisticb4mmr
Ever since I started coming to #autchat, I've been really able to figure out how I feel and check in with myself and label my emotions/feelings/senses better than anyone from the outside could. And this has really helped me discover myself. #autchat A2
Aria Sky @mamautistic36
A4.2: Okay. Gave it some more thought. Most often I think they last around 30 minutes to several hours. The two mentioned above were the most outlying, time wise. But I also start struggling with keeping track of time during meltdowns so that's an estimate. #autchat
Aria Sky @mamautistic36
@Everthecrafter Oh, yes, music helps me a lot during and after meltdowns! It can even help me hold off a meltdown until I can get somewhere safe. #autchat
#AutChat mod @autchatmod
The scheduled #AutChat is wrapping up. It's fine to keep chatting, join in late, or use the tag at other times!
#AutChat mod @autchatmod
Next Sunday’s #AutChat is on routines. Sun Dec 23, 9pm UTC / 9pm GMT / 4pm EST. https://t.co/ipISsIDsVy If you know anyone who might be interested and is autistic or similarly neurodivergent, we encourage you to invite them.
#AutChat mod @autchatmod
Reminder: We create weekly transcripts of #AutChat using Wakelet, and post them to our website. We also link to them from our Facebook and Twitter accounts. To be excluded from transcripts, reply here or (preferably) DM us.
#AutChat mod @autchatmod
Feel free to suggest ideas for #AutChat topics (or offer to help write questions)! For scheduled topics, see https://t.co/QrdW2e85Ey Every topic we've ever run: https://t.co/F56bZKXGAW We're happy to rerun past chats we haven't revisited in a while.
Solveig ⚧ - Autistic Acceptance Worldwide @autisticb4mmr
I very very rarely have witnesses. Very rarely. By some miracle, I've been able to save my meltdowns for inside the bathroom stall 😬 #autchat A3
#autchat content from Twitter.