Post-poning melt downs

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I've recently had some changes at my job and I've have been having difficulty coping. A few times this past week, I've been on the cusp of melt-down but have been able to postpone it with removing stimulus (bright lights and sounds) and by zoning out.

After wards, I feel really tired and emotionally drained. I'm hyper sensitive and feel a strong urge to comfort myself with repetitive actions. People around me have noticed my faculty for language has decreased as well. This state can last a few days.

I'd like to be able to manage my melt downs, if that is possible. While I'm not violent, melt downs are very uncomfortable as I get intensely upset and generally feel embarrassed after wards. I can tell when I'm about to melt down, and it usually lasts a short time and that I can recover within a few hours.

Should I tell my boss I have Asperger's so they know what to expect? Is there a better way to delay or cancel melt downs?

Any advice is appreciated!

I think maybe you might be too stressed out in general, if you're having so many meltdowns. Have you tried analyzing the stressors in your environment and figuring out what you can do about them? The immediate triggers may be unavoidable; but what about the background stuff--the sensory things, the unpredictable things, whatever really bugs you? Are you physically healthy, getting enough food and sleep, getting some time outdoors? Do you have enough time alone to relax and engage in special interests?

Meltdowns are a b***h to deal with, I'll admit; but I've made a good deal of progress myself, so I know it's possible.

Hi Callista!

I have made getting enough sleep, eating well, and exercising a priority and it does seem to help. I work part time, so I do have an opportunity to relax and enjoy my interests.

I am very stressed at work, but it might be helpful to make a list of things that are bugging me so I can start figuring out how to avoid some of the triggers. Unfortunately, some of the triggers are most likely seem normal to my N/T coworkers (like using the speaker phone, chatting in the office while I'm on the phone, asking me to do multiple tasks at once).

It's good to know that progress is possible! I get frustrated, because it's difficult to communicate what I sometimes go through.

Well, for me, my unhealthy coping strategy for melting down is caffeine. I have as many cups of coffee, redbulls, energy drinks, etc, as I can, to cope with whatever changes I can't adapt to fast enough. Usually any kind of multitasking. It's the only thing I've found to actually work, just it's dreadfully unhealthy. I used to think I was "addicted" to caffeine, but when I didn't have my normal stressers, just one cup of coffee in the morning for the entire day and I was ready to rock and take on the day. But, when I get stressed from whatever, I take crazy amounts of caffeine to cope. Most I've ever taken was 1 gram in a 6 hour span. 1 16oz redbull, 2 monsters, 2 cups of coffee. It's VERY unpleasant doing that much caffeine past the initial 2 hour or so "high" from it. Lucid dreams and all that if you force yourself to sleep, fun...

BUT, it's the only thing that works for me besides going away for a long long time by myself.

I've never drank coffee, but could start drinking more tea or try energy drinks to see if that helps.

I use foods/snacks as a coping strategy. I try to choose as nutritious and healthy ones as possible and pretty much have some food with me at all times.

Yeah, for me food and snacks only helps a super small amount compared to how caffeine does. Caffeine is kind of dangerous stuff, though. At 1 gram, my friend said from what I told him of my experience, it was pretty close to a "trip" That's like, caffeine toxicity dose, though. Also, caffeine, it's fairly well documented, too much will exacerbate some psychological conditions. There's even evidence for caffeine induced psychosis. So, sorta be careful. I've considered just getting an Aderall prescription, as now I tend to need so much caffeine if I'm stressed, it gets more into caffeine toxicity territory, so it'd have more negative effects than amphetamines would.

But yeah, it certainly works. You'll feel awesome as hell and like nothing will stop you, and life will be great. But, when you need it all to keep up with everyone else, it's not terribly fun. But, definitely works. My thing, though, is NVLD, so it's like Aspergers, but just not quite. I am painfully familiar with the "meltdowns" though. That seems to be the defining similarity with Aspergers.

disclosing to your boss and closest co-workers might be a good idea, especially in a situation like yours, where you are clearly showing symptoms.
as for delaying meltdowns, this is a dangerous practice, the longer you postpone, the worse it is going to be when it finally breaks out, so it might be a good idea to take a break and just let the meltdown happen, be that lunchbreak, the afternoon off or just planning the evening for that