Autism Meltdown vs. Panic Attack

Introduction

• Presenter: Dan from "The Aspie World"
• Content Focus: Differences between autism meltdowns and panic attacks
• Personal Background: Dan has autism, ADHD, OCD, and dyslexia

Autism Meltdown

Definition and Causes

• Autism Meltdown: An emotional outburst due to sensory overload
  • Triggers include sensory processing disorder (SPD), change in routine, unforeseen circumstances
• Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD): Impacts how sensory input is processed, leading to overload

Symptoms and Characteristics

• Loss of emotional control
• Triggered by excessive sensory input (e.g., smells, noises)
• Overwhelming emotions cause distress and lack of focus
• Meltdown duration: 20-30 minutes
• Recovery may take a day or more
• Symptoms include crying, self-harm, emotional exhaustion

Panic Attack

Definition and Causes

• Panic Attack: An emotional response to anxiety and nervousness
  • Triggered by excessive anxiety, overthinking, and stress

Symptoms and Characteristics

• Irregular breathing, over-analyzing situations
• Adrenaline rush leads to hyperventilation
• Panic attacks are shorter: 2-10 minutes
• Quick recovery compared to meltdowns
• Symptoms include heavy breathing, nervousness

Key Differences

• Autism Meltdown is a neurological response due to communication pathways
• Panic Attack is a mental health response due to anxiety
• Panic Attacks can be managed with anxiety medication; meltdowns are less affected by medication

Conclusion

• Personal experiences shared by Dan
• Invitation to viewers to share their experiences in comments
• Encouragement to share the video and subscribe for more content

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Additional Information

• Dan is active on social media platforms: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok
• Direct engagement with viewers encouraged through comments and social media interactions