How do you recover after a meltdown?

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Last public one I had was on the underground. I ended up hanging onto one of those polls in the middle of the carriage, banging my head against it moaning. I could see myself doing it, but couldn't stop. I recovered by sitting somewhere quiet until my thoughts were back in my own head.

I really should know to be very careful on public transport, or in supermarkets, etc... it's almost always in those places that things go horribly wrong for me.

I imagine they probably did look at me as if I was nuts... I don't know. I was too busy trying to not be there. My son was with me, both fortunately and unfortunately in a way. He doesn't get melt downs on public transport... he certainly looked after me. I think if he hadn't been there they'd have had to call someone to get me out of there. As it was, I'm glad he was there to help me, and sorry I put him in that position. I apologised later for embarassing him, and he looked at me blankly. "You didn't embarass me." Most teenage boys wouldn't have been that sympathetic to their weird Mum. I suppose he knows what I felt like.

If I were a black man, by the way, I'd definitely not travel on the London Underground. People would probably think you were a Muslim suicide bomber. You wouldn't believe the level of racism over here. I suppose it's as bad in the US though.

I've had people ask me if I'm scared of the Undergound because of the suicide attacks, but it's not that. It's just all those people packed in so tightly.

Anyway, if I have to use the underground again (please God, don't let me have to) I have a plan. Close my eyes, and put headphones on to block everything out, count the amount of times we stop in order to get off at the right place.

But I do start to panic from the minute I go through the gates, at the thought of the human sardine tin that waits beneath.

I'd really like some help with this... I don't have instant meltdowns, but I do have smaller instant reactions to things and over a number of days or whatever it builds up to a big nasty meltdown. And the worst is that, because they build up over time, it takes time to recover from them. I had a meltdown 24 hours ago and am still recovering. I don't burst into tears or screaming or tantrums, but I do get a feeling of lots of negative emotions jumbled up and tossing about in my head, while my mind is unable to choose which to act on. And my body starts to do the screaming for it. I'll feel weak and get disorientated like a drunk person, and I'll feel sick to my stomach and feel like crying and feel like sleeping and feel a desperation to keep moving my body by squirming or twitching or rocking. It's so horrible, I wish it didn't happen, but it does and the problem is that it builds up over time rather than happening instantly so I don't know how exactly to prevent it! I know that staying alone in a quiet place where I control the environment helps, but sadly I need at least a whole day to recover properly and of course this means missing random days of college. What happens then when I get a full-time job? How am I supposed to cope then? And isn't there a faster way of recovering from meltdowns? I think mine feel very physical, rather than just emotional. I feel overall RUBBISH when they happen and often helpless too.

I have meltdowns because of serious reasons and because of these absolutely stupid. Because in one shop something costs x and in another 1,1x. Or because I fail something not important. Every reason is a good reason to have a meltdown!

I usually have big crying attacks. Sometimes I yell at people, not in full sentences, but in single words. I see pictures in my mind and I yell their names, I don't think about sentences.

Then I need to stay alone. I listen to music, take a shower and go to bed. Going to bed helps me a lot. I hide under the blanket and I hug myself and I cry. Then I fall asleep. Meltdowns are really exhausting.

About half a year ago I got big crying attack in school, because of stupid reason. I feel ashamed even now.

Yeah, I get them over the stupid things...

Like going to the pharmacists and not getting my prescription for my arthritis meds filled because the prescription was more than a year old... When they saw that it really upset me (which I really had no reason to be upset about, I had a couple of days worth left and quick call to my rheumatologist would have gotten me a fresh prescription the next day) they then said that I could get the meds now anyway and just come back with the prescription when I got it, but by then I was fed up, things had fallen apart, I wanted to do it RIGHT and not have this "debt" hanging over me, and when I said to just forget it, I'd come back some other time, they got all pissy and concerned that I would be without meds.. I mean... WTF..

I finally got brash with them ("I said FORGET it, I'll come back!!) and yanked my kid with me and rushed out of there and to my car and started crying, leaving 3 astonished drug store clerks staring after me....

I won't even begin to describe REAL meltdowns, other than that I've been known to make furniture fly.....

I spend an evening at home, take a warm bath, and have a cup of tea.

I had a meltdown yesterday. All the pressure that was building up, I had a flat tire, then as I drove into the sunset my s pa re went flat. They both cannot be repaired I got home, realised I didn't have my wallet and then h broke loose. I went on a 30-45 minute rage meltdown. Now I'm super tired, and sleepy, my eyes hurt so much, and I somehow cut my arm and bled, feeling no pain like I had a seizure because I woke up on the floor.

I didn't have a meltdown, but I did have a growing sense of impending doom. The weather was hot and oppressive and I was soaking in sweat. I finally just had to lie down on the couch because I couldn't do anything else. Luckily, a decent rain came and things seem a bit calmer. I really hope it cools down soon so I can get some decent sleep. My sleep has been horrible for the past week and I have a monstrous thirst.

resting is really the only thing i can do.

I like to go in my dark den on my bed, put on my Sonic Hoodie, and watch Django Unchained (my favourite Movie of all time) or Temple Grandin on my computer.

i made myself a hammock so if i feel overwhelmed i grab my Sonic blankets, headphones and sunglasses and lay in my hammock outside.

Woah 2010... This thread sure got necrobumped.

But I'll contribute anyway. Usually I recover from meltdowns by just hiding in my room or lying down. Either that, or I'll drink alcohol or possibly even codeine linctus and stay out of peoples hair for a while. My coping mechanisms aren't good.

Cold water, deep breathing and rest in a dark room.

I have very rarely had a meltdown which was in anyway challenging to others. I cry and very easily too. What do I do? I got to bed and remove myself from all noise and interaction. It usually takes me half a day to recover and may not be fully right again for a day or two, although I function OK

Mine unfortunately occur most frequently at work, due to the stressful nature of my job. I'm very fortunate that I have a friend who works with me, who drives me home, because my brain is too foggy and I'm too tired to focus afterwards. At home I crawl under my weighted blanket and just lie on the floor in my bedroom and sleep for a few hours. When I wake up, I might spend some time in my swinging chair, whose opening is covered by a blanket so it's more like a swinging tent, then if my senses have calmed down somewhat, I'll sit for a while watching my colour-changing fluorescent fountain lamp. I usually only need a day to recover, but if the meltdown happens first thing in the morning, that's pretty much my whole day shot.