Meltdowns in Autistic Adults

What Do Autistic Meltdowns Really Feel Like? (From a 56-Year-Old Autistic Adult)
Hi, I’m Phil — a late-diagnosed autistic adult and creator behind @Autistic-Older-Adult. In this video, I share my deeply personal experience of autistic meltdowns as a 56-year-old man — including how they’ve shaped my life, relationships, and understanding of what it really means to live as an autistic adult.

👉 What You’ll Learn in This Video:

What an autistic meltdown feels like from the inside

How sensory overload and emotional burnout can build up over time

The difference between meltdowns and shutdowns

Why meltdowns are not “tantrums” — and why that distinction matters

How self-harm can sometimes show up during meltdowns (trigger warning)

Real-life examples from my own life — including a particularly intense meltdown at a motorway service center and during my cat Owen’s health crisis

What friends, family, and caregivers can do to support autistic adults during a meltdown

Whether you’re autistic yourself, supporting an autistic loved one, or simply want to understand more about late-diagnosed autism, this video offers an honest and vulnerable look into one of the most misunderstood aspects of autistic life.

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 – Intro: Crying Over a Burger – A Meltdown in Public
00:25 – Meet Phil – Late-Diagnosed Autistic Older Adult
01:05 – Why This Video Matters (Trigger Warning)
01:17 – Meltdowns Are Not All the Same
01:39 – Owen the Cat and the Meltdown Spiral
03:52 – When Stress Becomes Physical – Self-Harm in Meltdowns
04:52 – What Is an Autistic Meltdown?
05:46 – Meltdowns vs Tantrums
06:37 – Not All Autistic People Have Meltdowns
07:05 – Meltdowns vs Shutdowns – The Fight, Flight, Freeze Response
08:20 – What My Meltdowns Typically Look Like
09:37 – The Hardest Part – Injuring Myself During Meltdowns
11:45 – What It Feels Like From the Inside
12:40 – Can You Stop or Lessen a Meltdown?
14:47 – How to Help an Autistic Person During a Meltdown
16:35 – Back to the Service Centre – A Real-World Example
18:01 – Final Thoughts – It’s Okay to Have Meltdowns as an Autistic Adult
18:43 – Outro – Subscribe for More Real Autistic Experiences

📺 Watch Next: [My Introduction to Autism – Late Diagnosis Story]
https://youtu.be/J55eU1ph6cg

🔔 Subscribe for real-life stories, advocacy, and insights about late-diagnosed autism, adult autistic experiences, and what it means to live authentically as a neurodivergent person.

💌 Got questions, thoughts, or your own story to share?
📧 Contact: autisticolderadult@gmail.com
Or leave a comment — "Do you or your loved one experience Autistic Meltdowns."

🧠 Autistic life doesn’t end with childhood — and meltdowns don’t either. You’re not broken. You’re not alone. You're Autistic

Видео Meltdowns in Autistic Adults канала Phil Lawson