I'm a grown-ass adult, and was diagnosed as being on the spectrum quite late; Aspergers wasn't even a valid diagnosis until after I had graduated from high school.
So, haven't really had a lot of support.
Just wanted to check in with other people - what does a meltdown mean for you, in terms of communicating? When I'm feeling emotionally overwhelmed, I have words in my head, but I can get them out of my mouth. If I try to write things down, I either have the same block, or I'll write, erase, re-write, erase again, and repeat tens of times until I give up.
I tend to find my meltdowns happen to make me more verbal for a little bit. But I still cannot communicate afterwards.
I'll mostly be talking (or crying) to myself, doing the whole ugly crying thing. It lasts about an hour, over the stupidest thing, then I just go silent. I had already let it all out, and there was nothing left at that point.
I'm blank faced, neutral looking. Like a mannequin. The voices in my head have finally gone quiet and I just sit there in silence.
I kind of enjoy the aftermath, for how blank I feel afterwards.
That said, it is more awkward for others who don't understand that I just want to be quiet.
I should learn how to manage this...