Autistic shutdown can look quiet from the outside, with reduced speech, withdrawal, stillness or difficulty responding when sensory, emotio...
♾️ Autism support guide
An autistic shutdown can be easy to miss because overwhelm is not always loud. A person may become very quiet, speak less or not at all, withdraw from interaction, struggle to make decisions, or need to get away from sensory and social demands.
TL;DR: An autistic shutdown is a term commonly used for a pattern of withdrawal and reduced responsiveness that can happen when an autistic person becomes overwhelmed. During a shutdown, reducing unnecessary stimulation and pressure, protecting safety, and allowing time to recover are usually more helpful than pushing for conversation.
