Jordan Beaven

Lately, I’ve been struggling—a lot. The kind of struggle where everything feels too much and not enough all at once. The world becomes sharp-edged, overwhelming, and painfully loud. And I know deep down why: it’s because I’m autistic.

This week alone, I’ve had a couple of autistic meltdowns and shutdowns. I’ve been totally burnt out and overwhelmed, hitting full-on sensory overload. I’ve reached that point where my nervous system is so frayed that even the smallest thing can tip me over the edge—and often does.

The Cycle of Burnout and Hyperfocus

I’ve been reading a book about AuDHD (Autism + ADHD), and it’s been like turning on a light in a very confusing room. I’m learning more and more about how my autism shapes the way I live, think, and crash.

One of my biggest patterns? Doing way too much at once. I enter a hyperfocus state, focusing intensely on something or just getting things done, and then suddenly—I’m not. I’m overwhelmed, overstimulated, and snapping at people around me. The world becomes way too intense, too fast, and I can’t handle it.

The worst part? I don’t even realise it’s happening until I’m already past my limit. I’ve crossed that invisible line and managing myself becomes ten times harder because I’m already drowning in it.

Shutdowns, Communication Struggles, and What Helps

When I reach this point, communication becomes really hard. Sometimes I can’t speak at all. It’s like the words just disappear. My body and brain go into lockdown mode, and I have to act fast to soothe myself.

Some things that help me include: Putting on my noise-cancelling headphones and playing a playlist I made just for this. Using a colouring app on my phone to ground me and also doubles as stimming. Hiding in bed with my Loop earplugs in for silence. Listening to an audiobook under a blanket, curled up in the fetal position. Taking PRN medication when it’s really bad and I need to calm down or sleep it off due to exhaustion.

There are times I need to do all of the above. It’s not neat or predictable, but it’s what helps.

Telling the Difference: Crisis vs. Autism

I’m slowly learning to spot the difference between a mental health crisis and autism-related burnout/meltdowns. But knowing isn’t the same as being able to act on it in time. I haven’t quite figured out how to put the right boundaries or tools in place before things spiral.

I hope I’ll get there.

Some Suggestions Of Tools That Help Me (and Might Help You Too)

If you’re autistic, neurodivergent, or just overwhelmed by the world sometimes, here’s a list of things that help me when I’m melting down or shutting down. Maybe they’ll help you too—or spark some ideas of what might:

• Noise-cancelling headphones
• A soft or weighted blanket
• A dark room
• Quiet spaces with low stimulation
• Calming music, brown or white noise
• Sensory-friendly objects (like stroking a soft teddy or using fidget toys)
• Sensory-friendly clothing
• Sitting outside somewhere quiet
• Being given time and space to communicate only when I’m ready
• Allowing myself to stim without shame
• Using my speech assistance app (still working on building confidence here)
• Watching comfort shows
• Journaling or “brain dumping”
• Playing games that feel like stimming (e.g., Happy Color—repetitive tapping really helps)
• Listening to audiobooks in bed while stimming with toys
• Eating or drinking something that’s satisfying from a sensory perspective

If you’re in a similar place, please know you’re not alone. Burnout, shutdowns, meltdowns—they’re real. And they’re not failures. They’re signs that your body and brain are trying to survive in a world not designed for you.

We’re allowed to rest. We’re allowed to set limits. And we’re allowed to take up space—even when that space is under a blanket in the dark with headphones on.

All my love,

Jords x