shutdown

Shutdown: the autistic implosion

Florent 11/20/2025 No Comments

Autistic crises are an integral part of life for many autistic people. After discussing them broadly in a previous article, it’s important to describe them in detail, starting with shutdowns, often described as autistic collapse or social withdrawal. A shutdown is also defined as autistic withdrawal, an involuntary response triggered by sensory or emotional overload. Yet the reality goes far beyond simple withdrawal — it is a neurological reaction in autistic individuals, designed to short-circuit an overload the brain perceives as danger.

Autism

Shutdown and meltdown: understanding autistic crises

Florent 11/20/2025 No Comments

In the collective imagination, an autistic person is someone withdrawn, exceptional at math, calm, and rocking back and forth. What many people don’t realize is that autistic individuals can also experience intense emotional outbursts (meltdowns) and internal shutdowns (shutdowns). These crises have various causes, but sensory overload is the most common trigger.

Interludes Journal

Interludes: Cambodia #2 — From crisis to laughter

Florent 11/19/2025 No Comments

It’s now been a week since I arrived in Cambodia — just as I mentioned in my first article, the day before leaving. This is actually my return to the country, where I previously completed a humanitarian internship and lived among Cambodians, fully immersed in their culture and way of life. This time, I arrived with a small group of friends. For the first few days, we chose rest mode and discovery of the capital: four days in Phnom Penh, and a scooter trip to Skuon — the town of tarantulas — about one hour away. Perfect for October (Halloween season) and for triggering gag reflexes in the faint-hearted. These interludes serve as a breath of air in my blog — and as a way of sharing an experience that is far more sensory than it first appears.

shutdown

Shutdown: the autistic implosion

Shutdown and meltdown: understanding autistic crises

Interludes: Cambodia #2 — From crisis to laughter

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Meltdown: the autistic explosion

Shutdown: the autistic implosion

Shutdown and meltdown: understanding autistic crises

Interludes: Cambodia #4 — Laughter, bugs, and other social glitches