Age1600 - I am so sorry, what a nightmare! That's not just scary, but traumatizing. You didn't do anything wrong and I guess we both realize this is a function of your HFA. You live in New Jersey, which is entirely different from my home (Interior rural Alaska).



But I have had SCREAMING (I mean literally) in public...I HATE this beyond imaginable. I am shy and this just about kills me.



Something AWFUL happened to me in January and I told no one. I will tell you because you're my friend (yes, I know you from WP) and we have the same 'condition,' or version of. Then I'll tell you what I do that SAVES me.



I was driving north to visit an older couple and I'd never been to their remote place before. Ever. Ironically, I have a good sense of magnetic direction but I cannot know novel back roads, of course. I was supposed to meet them at 6 pm. They have no phone or electricity so I couldn't have contacted them to let them know I was in distress. I felt AWFUL that I had disappointed them (but I hadn't - they were really sad with what happened, or what tragically could have happened). I was alone, no one knew of my whereabouts, and I became lost. Badly, seriously lost. I knew meltdown was pending and I had a nightmare meltdown. Then I had a seizure where everything was black, white, black, white, black, white. I remember vividly SCREAMING and screaming and screaming, crying uncontrollably. I was beyond hysterically frantic. I have a good heater in my car but the temperature outside was -41 degrees F. I was disoriented out-of-mind.



I had the presence of mind to pull over from the isolated road I was somewhere on. Oh, it's really dark in AK at this time too. Pitch black. A truck pulled over, seeing a car in distress (since off-road). He was so nice.....somehow he sensed I had a real medical problem - thankfully. I was not, nor have I ever been, drunk, drugged, etc. He recognized this as the medical emergency it was, not the latter. I did have a cell phone on my car seat but hadn't used it. I virtually never carry my cell. He called 911 and I showed him my medic alert ID bracelet, which has my name and 'Autistic - AS' engraved. Probably saved my life. And, significantly, I carry a printed card in my wallet with a brief description of HFA (high-functioning autism) and simple instructions in the event of meltdown &/or emergency. He related this stuff to 911. The troopers were there quickly. I was already feeling much better but still shaky. Those troopers, after knowing the info on both my medic alert bracelet and medical card, were incredibly understanding and supportive of me. They got me back to Fairbanks. The original trip would have taken just about 30-35 minutes. I had left my Fairbanks apartment at about 5:35 pm. When the troopers arrived the time was at 10:00 pm. I had a 4 hour meltdown and was beyond exhausted. I could barely stand and was not well. The medical personnel could 'see' I was in medical distress, not that I was being 'bad/weird/drunk/drugged/retarded/psycho, etc' I was okay but rested the entire next day and recuperated.



Age1600 - Because I do know what you went through, and have had similar, please get a medical alert ID bracelet. This investment is WELL WORTH IT!! Plus, your medical insurance may pay - but a med bracelet doesn't cost that much. It may save your life. Next (this is imperative!), have a PRINTED card prominently displayed in your wallet (mine says, "Read in case of emergency"). On this card print your name, contact info, Dr.'s # (or equivalent), plus a SPECIFIC yet succinctly written statement of what your conditon is and brief instructions of what a medical transponder should do in the event of an emergency &/or meltdown. This can SAVE you! Otherwise, the police have NO WAY of knowing what is going on with you and they can assume the worst. You do NOT need this and mistreatment by an unknowing medical transponder, or the police is a disaster waiting to happen - as you know. You may certainly have your medical provider authorize your medical alert card and have another (your boyfriend?) look over your card, offering input or edit. I hope nothing of this sort happens to you again, but a meltdown (or equivalent) is out of your control and being 'punished' for what you are NOT makes it worse!



Hope you feel better really soon. Age1600, if you wish, you may PM me and I'll print what's on my card for you - your will invariably need to adjusted to match your needs, but similar. And try to order a medical alert bracelt right away - it's worth it. And could save your life. I'll be thinking of you!



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The ones who say “You can’t” and “You won’t” are probably the ones scared that you will. - Unknown