People cannot accept what I tell them

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Sometimes I have panic attacks where I can barely do anything. They don't feel unpleasant. They usually happen to me when I'm overwhelmed by expectations.

I just sit down quietly and stare into empty space. I'm not disrupting anyone. I probably creep people out by staring into empty space, but I think that is their problem.

I often get asked if I'm okay when I'm in this state. Since I can't communicate complicated thoughts or "look normal" in that state I just say that I am okay.

They often aren't satisfied by that answer. I know that I'm not in a normal state of mind. I guess that doesn't constitute okay to most people. I am okay in the sense that I will feel fine if I'm left alone.

Even if I could communicate in that state I doubt they would have the brain capacity to understand.

Is this how no one takes what you say at face value or the fact that you sit in silence BECAUSE no one likes what you have to say or how you said it?

If you wrote yourself a simple note, would you remember to take it out and show it to them when needed?
Something like:
"Sometimes I get over-stressed and I need time alone to put myself back together.
I know what I need to do. I will be fine in a little while."

Pleasant panic attacks? How do they make you feel? I get short of breath, my muscles tense up. Staring into space seems like a good idea. I don't know why people have to fuss so much when someone is quiet.

ASDs communicate differently than NTs, that's a big core of our problem, since we communicate differently they don't know how to interpret it, meaning, it doesn't look right to them and it is natural to assume that something that doesn't look right - isn't right.
It is a core part of their failure with life/new information, ASDs are very susceptible to it too, though for different reasons.

Yes, but perhaps as they get used to this sort of behaviour it will look more right to them.

I don't think this is necessarily ASD related. Most people talk about fight and flight. There is also a freeze response. I think freeze response is designed to make people stop and think. That is a pretty appropriate response when teachers demand a lot from me and I need to think of how I will meet those demands. When I'm "frozen" I can't communicate too well, but once I get "unfrozen" I'm more productive than ever.

I think it's good that you are taking the time to think things through. I've felt social pressure to say something when I wasn't ready to and I ended up saying something I didn't mean (ie stupid.) Too bad your teachers aren't more patient.

No one takes what I say at face value. They always try to find "hidden meanings" that might or might not exist. Even though I'm not exactly okay when I say I'm okay, I'm actually trying to tell them to leave me alone. It would be way easier if they took what I said at face value. If they did I could just tell them to leave me alone and they would.

That would be convenient, hmm?

You saying your'e ok is a very general statement that can be read in many different ways and because your body posture doesn't look okay then people aren't believing you.

I end up staring into space when I get overloaded too and I can't really verbalise much.

It's a very hard situation to deal with because when I tend to let them know when I'm ok then they get closer and here come the hugs. Sometimes it's just better for me to not tell them until things really start to get serious.

Too bad we just can't say mind your own business' without people taking it the wrong way.

I don't think "panic attack" is the right name.

I searched WP for "autistic shutdown" and there's a lot of threads.
"Mild Asperger's and shutdowns" http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt235476.html[i]

I'd rather not call it an autistic shutdown because I'm not really autistic.

Perhaps you should practice an automatic response for such times like, "Just give me a moment" or "I just need a minute". That kind of response means both "I will be OK" and "Leave me alone", and most people will respect it and give you your space.