"Shutdowns Are Like You're Stuck on the Blue Screen of Death": A Metaphor Analysis of Autistic Shutdowns

Autistic adults commonly experience shutdowns, which are distressing events widely discussed within Autistic communities. Yet, few studies to date have explored firsthand accounts of shutdown experiences. In this study, we aimed to identify figurative language that Autistic adults use to describe shutdowns, thereby broadening the understanding of and providing language for this complex phenomenon.

We used a participatory research approach to conduct a secondary analysis of qualitative data from two prior studies on shutdowns in Autistic adults. Primary studies used asynchronous interviews and a survey, with a total sample size of 86 participants. We analyzed a corpus of 87 typed pages using the Pragglejaz Group's metaphor identification procedure to identify figurative language that Autistic adults used to describe shutdowns.

Autistic adults in this sample used six metaphors to explain shutdowns, including the following: being frozen, a computer crash, going inside myself, when I can't keep up, survival mode, and playing a role.

These metaphors help to externalize the internal experience of shutdowns. Participants described shutdowns as a state of being stuck, often involving physical and/or vocal immobilization. They frequently described shutdowns as a response to perceived threats, connecting them to a sense of survival and self-protection. Metaphors provide a rich context for understanding and talking about shutdowns. Findings also highlight how Autistic adults organically construct metaphors to articulate their experiences. Future studies could use metaphor analysis to explore other affective experiences of Autistic individuals.

Why is this an important issue?: Many Autistic people experience shutdowns, but there is not much research on what shutdowns feel like. Studies that have looked at shutdowns found they can be hard to explain, especially to people who have not had a shutdown before. People often describe shutdowns as feeling frozen or stuck. We need to better understand shutdowns from the perspectives of people who experience them.What was the purpose of this study?: We wanted to understand how Autistic adults describe shutdowns. Metaphors can help explain an experience by comparing it with something else. Our goal was to find out what metaphors Autistic adults use to describe shutdowns and if those metaphors can help explain what a shutdown feels like.What did the researchers do?: In two earlier studies, we asked 86 Autistic adults about their experiences with shutdowns. Some answered questions in interviews, while others filled out surveys. Using these data, we used a method called "metaphor identification procedure," meaning we looked for words or phrases where participants used metaphors or other figurative language to compare their experience with a shutdown with something else. Once we identified these metaphors, we grouped them together to find metaphors that summarized the experience for participants.What were the results of the study?: We found six common metaphors that participants used to compare shutdowns with something else to help explain their experiences. Participants compared shutdowns with the following: being frozen, a computer crash, going inside myself, when I can't keep up, survival mode, and playing a role.What do these findings add to what was already known?: Few studies have looked at what it feels like to have a shutdown for Autistic people. Our findings add a rich description of what shutdowns feel like and add Autistic voices to the literature.What are potential weaknesses in the study?: Most participants in this study were White, so we are not sure if these findings are relevant for people of other racial backgrounds. Since people needed internet access to take part in this study, we may also be missing the perspectives of people who do not have access to a computer or internet.How will these findings help Autistic adults now or in the future?: These findings give non-Autistic people a better way of understanding what shutdowns are like for Autistic people. This knowledge can guide future research and help clinicians better support Autistic people who experience shutdowns.