This isn’t about “fixing” us. It’s about standing with us.

Adult Autistic meltdowns are not tantrums. They’re not overreactions. They’re the visible tip of an iceberg made of stress, sensory overload, and accumulated internal pressure. If someone you care about has meltdowns, your support—before, during, and after—can make a real difference. But maybe no one’s ever explained what that looks like. That’s where this page comes in.

Whether you’re a parent, partner, friend, coworker, clinician, teacher, first responder, or simply someone who wants to do better, you’ll find tools here that center dignity, reduce harm, and help you show up without taking over.

Support Road Map

  • What are adult autistic meltdowns? — Cut through the myths. Learn what’s really going on when an Autistic adult melts down.
  • What helps (and doesn’t)? — Concrete tips on how to support an Autistic adult before, during, and after a meltdown. With nuance. With care. With consent.
  • What meltdowns feel like (from the inside) — Read real descriptions of Autistic meltdowns from those who experience them. This is your window into a reality you might never have seen clearly before.
  • Meltdowns vs. Manipulation: A reality check — Too often, Autistic distress gets misread as attention-seeking, emotional blackmail, or “bad behavior.” Let’s challenge that narrative.
  • FAQs about supporting Autistic adults — Answers to questions asked again and again—what to say, what not to do, and how to take care of yourself, too.
  • Respecting autonomy during crisis — Support doesn’t mean control. Learn how to offer help without overriding consent or agency.

MORE RESOURCES

If you’re new to all this, visit the Adult Autistic Meltdowns 101 page

If you’re Autistic yourself, head to The Hearth—a space just for us