@christineE9301
My biggest signs of overwhelm are exhaustion and struggling with words. When I struggle with words, I need to take a step back and figure out what is disregulating me, and take the needed steps to get to a better place.
@5avan10
Before I learned that I was autistic, I knew that I would have days where I would not be able to think straight. I sometimes couldn't even process sentences being spoken to me effectively, much less articulate a response. I knew it was related to stress, but I didn't fully understand how or why it happened. When I'm in such a state now, where I'm essentially non-verbal, my wife and I use a system for me to tell her, so she doesn't get so frustrated trying to communicate with me when I'm unable to do so. After watching Guardians of the Galaxy, with the scene between Rocket and Groot being unable to communicate effectively while Rocket was trying and failing to communicate simple instructions to Groot, we both could relate far too easily to the situation. So now I just tell her, "I am Groot," which means that having a conversation with me right now is pointless, and it would be best for this conversation to wait until later if possible.
@DarklyYours
I love it when Debby voices the episode and Chris is like the wild animal that is the subject of the video 😂
@rainbowconnected
Some of the signs I'm getting overwhelmed are that I cannot stand even small sources of skin irritation, such as mosquito bites, hair getting in my face or bits of dirt stuck to my feet. My skin just becomes crazy sensitive. Sounds start to bother me more than usual as well. If I start picking at my skin, I know it's getting bad. I'll usually put in my ear plugs, get a fidget and retreat to my meltdown corner. I have a basket of items there to help me calm down, that way I don't have to go looking for stuff when I'm overwhelmed already. Sometimes I'll watch something silly or comforting to distract me. It's frustrating, since it feels like I am not in control of my body. But it also feels like a really loving thing to do for myself instead of letting it get to the point of full on meltdown. Thank you both for all the awesome information you share here! I'm learning so much! Debby, you are such a kind, beautiful soul! As an autistic person who hasn't often been shown that kind of understanding, consideration and gentleness, it's really healing to see it. I imagine a lot of other folks here haven't experienced it either and it's really helpful to see someone model the kind of treatment we deserve from the people close to us.
@MeinDeutschkurs
Great video. Overwhelming for me was: during I watched the video, someone folded a paper bag multiple times in my surroundings, so I had to watch multiple sequences multiple times. Aaaaaah!
@MissRoesie
Chris is lucky to have you. I am quite jealous. My family gets angry with me when I go through overwhelm and shutdown. They tell me how lazy and useless I am, although I am trying my best to do my tasks. Trying doesn’t count - only results. At the moment everything is too much. Cleaning, working, forms and obligations.
@michellemees8286
My adult autistic son will come to me when he needs a body double to help with initiating tasks that need a lot of executive functioning. I’m always honored to be there for him ❤
@anna_d5150
Wish I had a Debbie. Diagnosed with adhd 20 years ago and autism last year after seeing how my sons shared adhd traits were actually autism. Trying to parent, advocate and organise and support my teen son while also needing support and advocacy is soooo hard. Baby steps. I’m in Australia and I’ve just qualified for funded supports - thank you NDIS - and I’m overcoming my selective mutism while trying to communicate how I need help. It’s so exhausting. I play video games to escape or stare into space from my couch if even too exhausted for video game escapism. I’ve just bought your recommended book. Love this channel. Easy to watch, not too long, not too triggering. You guys rock!
@ronjaj.addams-ramstedt1023
Repeated interruptions are one of my worst causes of overwhelm. Today my mother, who has Alzheimer's, has called four times about the same thing, and finally I had to put my phone on Do Not Disturb because I was starting to feel angry when the dogs came and wanted to play. I have since gotten a cup of coffee, crawled up in bed, complained to my hubby, we have watched this video together, he brought me a cold pack to put under my neck, and he is now fixing dinner. I'm feeling a little bit better, step by step.
@caitlins.4427
When I get overwhelmed I have trouble talking and vocalizing my thoughts. I often need to take a few minutes to turn my thoughts and feelings into words. If I don't all I'll tell you when you ask me what's going on is "I don't know".
@TheDopekitty
Heat, hunger, repetitive noises are some of my big triggers for overwhelm. I get cranky, panicky or both.
@nyxstarbright2590
Debby - Top tier person and wife. 👍👍
@BulbaTube
PUBLIC TRANSIT = hell. Public transit and someone using their cell on speaker phone = My own personal health.
@MiljaHahto
For me one clean sign of stress levels and exhaustion being high is interrupting people more, because I become worse at reading the conversation.
@MaskedBishop
I've just discovered this channel for myself and appreciate the fact that your examples are WAY more relatable than the official autism descriptions. I haven't been diagnosed, but have been considering for 20 years now that I might be affected. I've had a mandatory work trip this week, which had stressed me out months before and in the train towards the destination, and I might need another week to be able to calm down back to my baseline. 😅 Usually I just explain things like "I'm a picky eater", "I need alone time because I'm an introvert" and so on, but I can identify with 80% of the things you mention here and zoned out often this week til a point at which I couldn't focus on any particular voice anymore. 🙈 In those cases I have to leave the group and go to my room, listen to some video game music or sit outside alone for half an hour to calm down a bit. I also brought my Kirby plushy to the hotel with me, since just looking at it can put me at ease a bit. ^^ So far I love your content, and I'm looking forward to watching the other videos your channel has to offer. ❤
@Gaya-ch1ff
What helps me most when overwhelmed: Nature (walks, gardening or just observation) Yoga it does wonders to regulate the nervous system and there’s so many ways to engage, for me postures, breathing and active meditation work best) Isolation (what I call «I pretend life is on stop) Special interests, research or cleaning Hot showers or baths Weighted blankets (got a little one I can warm up and put on my chest) And deep compression (the squish cuddle, in my house) The positive stims like something soft or a great smell. Essentially though is to remove as much as possible stressful responsabilities and introduce as many pleasurable and positive experiences as I can. Changing and adapting my life where I can and stop just surviving trying to fit myself into society. It’s a long road ahead 😅 still to accepting myself and I’ll walked it clumsily 😊 Lots of love to everyone!!!
@maureenbiddle6252
Pretty much for me. An appointment can be handled with notice and preparation. Pretty much an appointment ends up being the only thing accomplished for that day. I cannot emphasize enough that medical appointments are a particular risk. This is because the place that should be most accommodating, isn't . The degree of ignorance in the medical community is horrifying. It is a place where the goals in the industry don't match the needs of the patient. I strongly think that an autistic person doesn't necessarily need to say" look at me, I'm different". Make no mistake , most institutions do not comply with reasonable accommodation for an autistic person or anyone with a disability , unless they are urged to do it. It's federal law. Documenting a diagnosis or disability is in your own interest in these situations.
@fintux
Having to do something for the first time is often overwhelming. Videos are a great help to that. And one of my signs for overwhelm is that I get frustrated, irritated, feel like giving up etc., and also my sensory sensitivities get worse. Like I can't stand annoying sounds when I'm overwhelmed. I think many people also want to have their safe food in that case (strangely, I used to have really limited selection of foods I was able to tolerate as a kid, and now I eat quite a lot of different things and don't really experience narrowing of what I can eat even when overwhelmed).
@carlawilliams6730
My challenge is that if we are in a family get together/visit situation, I think I can figure out a way to get away and do self care when starting to get overwhelmed before I meltdown. BUT if I have to continue to interact with them (like when we have family staying with us, and I still have to share meals/activities and still have to function in my own home OR worse at someone else's place), I'm not sure how to NOT get overwhelmed again, or how to broach the subject that i'm overwhelmed by the circumstances, not by THEM necessarily (it might be something they're doing, tho). I'm afraid of offending them, and then when I meltdown, that's horrible and I'm embarrassed and shamed, and then they avoid me and are different around me, and that just triggers more! Honestly, I think that I am just going to not do family get togethers for awhile, unless they're very short.
@Auticate