Careful...

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Becoming less verbal or nonverbal

Looking “spaced out” or detached from what’s happening 

Withdrawing, not wanting to be around people

Curling up in the fetal position

Hiding out under furniture, blankets, etc. 

As a few other posters have said, if the person shutting down is in a crowded, noisy, or otherwise threatening place, remove them to somewhere calmer and safer. Be gentle, since physical contact can make sensory overload worse.

Try not to ask too many difficult questions (and please do not ask them anything that could wait until later). Being in a shut down often makes executive dysfunction or language processing issues worse; even simple yes-or-no questions can be difficult to handle, either because it is frustrating to process the words, or to make a decision. Do not assume that they haven’t heard you if they don’t respond immediately.

I, personally, tend to be more prone to withdrawing or becoming irritable when I haven’t had food lately. If you know the person in question well enough to evaluate this, take this into consideration. The one question that’s always welcome to me is “do you want food?”. Not “have you eaten lately?” (requires memory + categorization), and not “what can I get you?” (requires decision making).

signs that their auditory processing isn’t working as well as it typically does, including frequently asking for things to be repeated for clarification (obviously the context matters with this one–if this is in a loud room or a room with several noises going on at once/if it’s a situation where most people would do this, then it’s likely not a sign of a shutdown, especially if no other signs are present)

not being able to give clear answers (ex. more frequent use of “i don’t know/care/understand”)

more difficulty processing what they’re seeing than is usual (can’t think of indicators of this)

having a harder time/not being able to read

basically anything indicating that their processing isn’t working as well as usual

obvious signs of increased anxiety/distress (rapid stimming, concerning expressions–looking expressionless, teary, angry, and/or frustrated, getting easily frustrated, unusual tone of voice/speech patterns)

most of these are signs i (sometimes) recognize in myself when i’m close to shutting down

and it’s important to remember that a couple of these doesn’t necessarily mean someone is shutting down, especially considering these should be changes and not just what’s typical for the person in question (ex. having constant problems processing audio)

some people also have individualized indicators, which you can find out by (as the previous commenter suggested) talking to/asking them

and if an autistic person tells you that they’re close to a shutdown or meltdown and they need something (to be somewhere with less stimulation, food/liquids, something to stim with, etc.) but they aren’t showing any signs of it, believe them anyway

Work hasn’t even been that crazy, I just changed the background a dozen times, moved the banners constantly and realized way too late that they were wrong anyway, they have vertical banners not horizontal ones…. Did I mention he is really really boring to color?

They do bad things because they’re scared.

They’re gullible or misinformed. Example: somebody who has been told the heroes are out to hurt them.

They are desperate for interaction, validation, kindness, or attention, and the dark side gives them those things. 

They want to change their allegiance, but are pressured by people close to them to stay evil.

“Do not attempt to lecture me about the unbridled merits of the Force over the robust power of science and technology, Ren. You will get nowhere,” he stated simply as he ashed his cigarette in a small ashtray. “Truly, you are nothing more than an overly glorified monk that is preoccupied with an irrelevant ancient religion. You have yet to prove your worth to me.”

He straightened up in his chair, sneering slightly at the man in front of him. Unadulterated hatred was coursing through his veins and it was taking an incredible amount of energy to not lunge at his adversary. Hux took the final drag of his cigarette before carefully putting it out. He looked up at Ren and pursed his lips.

"You dare bring up Takodana and not mention your own personal failure to secure that droid? Your reckless actions on that planet cost me my life's work," Hux spat, unable to keep his pale complexion from growing red with anger. He wanted nothing more than to hurt Ren; to make the bastard suffer. He was smart enough, however, to not even attempt to use his weapon against the Force-sensitive warrior.

AMAZING Commission done by the fantastic and supremely talented @schaloime  of my OC Katar Neth ( @katarneth ) and Young Hux ( @nihilisthux ) 

Okay, so Aspie Hux theory/headcanon/whatever… Don’t shoot me.

I’m going off of a symptom list because I don’t want to just start describing myself for the sake of it. That said, this’ll probably turn into it.

He stims.

We’re well aware of his pacing and digging into the palms of his hands with his nails from the novelisation. I’ll argue that this is a form of stimming that evolved with age so that it is more subtle. 

He’s good with reading people.

You’re probably thinking “Wait, what the fuck? Isn’t it supposed to be the opposite?” Yes, well, it is. That said, I’m also a people-reader and I have Asperger’s. The talent came from years of having to train myself to ‘pass’ as neurotypical. This was definitely not the case in my childhood and I could imagine that Hux is similar. It’s probably projection but it’s a headcanon for a reason.

Appears to lack empathy.

This has always been a pet peeve of mine and that’s why it’s worded with ‘appears’. People on the Spectrum do not lack empathy. They just might not express it or feel it as deeply. Everyone is different. 

Formal style of speaking.

WebMD (the bane of my existence) actually gives a good example. “[the] child may use the word ‘beckon’ instead of ‘call’”. I think most of us have headcanoned Hux as eloquent since he is. This does not mean that he is always formal, it is just his preference/natural way of thinking and speaking.

Preoccupied with one or a few interests.

Deep preoccupation, my friends. He is incredibly preoccupied with his military theory and strategy, gets defensive when questioned about said theory, and I’m also of the impression that he’s a maths/science nerd and probably developed Starkiller himself. He’s probably also had one-sided conversations with any number of officers about the aforementioned topics.

Dislike any changes in routine.

Give him shit for his obsession with order and cleanliness all you want, however, this runs deeper than your typical commanding officer. This can actually manifest itself later on as a form of OCD.