Yesterday, July the 2nd, I have a shutdown.

Shutdown is an autistic crisis or event less often and totally different from a meltdown.

On a shutdown, the autistic person is disconnected from the world for some hours or even days. It’s like there’s no time: the brain stops – it’s not stuck, but powerless instead.

I shut totally down from 14:00Z until 17:00Z, roughly. During that time, I was simply off: no thoughts, no memories, no dreams, no emotions, no sensations… only void. Not even time.

After that, my wife called me, which triggered me a comeback response. Thanks to medication and a lotta willpower, I was able to get back slowly, and I was finally up around 19:00Z.

I was sorta sluggish the rest of the day though, I simply couldn’t focus.

I’m not sure people understand the power of a shutdown. It isn’t a matter of willpower (as my speech may’ve suggested): it’s chemical; a person in such an event needs help.

Dunno why, but it feels like it’s important to be shared.