In the same way that many of us experience meltdowns, shutdowns are also common amongst neurodivergent people. Whilst they’re usually less noticeable to others, shutdowns can be every bit as impactful as meltdowns. Some of us have both meltdowns and shutdowns, depending on the situation. 

A shutdown feels like a crash, a physical and mental shutting down of everything that usually feels manageable. When I’ve experienced shut downs I’ve felt unable to communicate, at all, and a sense of extreme physical fatigue. My brain doesn’t fire in the same way as usual. In fact, it doesn’t seem to fire in any way. All of this tends to come on suddenly and the only thing I can do is take myself off to bed. I’m not able to read or watch tv until I’ve recovered a bit. All I can do is lie in peace and if I’ve been desperately worried about something it tends to be replaced with a feeling of complete numbness. 

Clients sometimes describe it as feeling as though their engine has suddenly stalled. Suddenly feeling unable to go on, or not being able to focus on what someone is saying, or feeling as if you don’t have the capacity to even leave a place can feel scary and disorienting and, like meltdowns, shutdowns require recovery time.

Putting measures into place that can help minimise shutdowns is similar to the measures for meltdowns, and again the emotional timeline can be helpful in recognising the types of triggers that often lead to a shutdown. I’ve included a Shutdown Wheel, which can help you identify some of the feelings that might underlie those big emotions which cause a shutdown situation. And, like meltdowns, it's useful for other people to know how best to support us in the lead up to, and recovery phase from, a shutdown. 

Much as shutdowns can be unpleasant, they sometimes play a protective role. It’s the mind and body’s way of saying I am completely overwhelmed as the result of what I’ve experienced at a sensory, emotional or social level. I’m shutting off from what’s going on around me. That can be a healthy response, and it’s important to recognise it as such. Have a safe space where you can go, make sure others know what you need at that point in time and clearly express what you need to deal best with your shutdown experience.

There is a potential for a shutdown to lead to a meltdown, particularly if others don’t respect your need for peace and a break from everything that led to a shutdown. And if you keep having shutdowns, but don’t have the opportunity to recover fully, you can end up in a cycle of shutdown, minimal recovery and another shutdown. Eventually, you can end up completely fatigued and overwhelmed and can end up in a state of burnout.

So don’t feel guilty about recognising your needs during a shutdown experience and for taking complete time out to do whatever you need to do to recover. Doing so can prevent you from feeling far worse if you keep trying to push through it, or if other people try and prevent you from having your full recovery phase.