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Why do meltdowns occur?

Autistic people as you may have already heard, get overstimulated: the lights, the noises, the movement of people walking all around, etc. Autistic people hear everything; the pens clicking, someones shoes scruffing on the floor, the voices, the lights actually hum, and even watches...I told my doctor once that her watch sounded like tin when it clicked and she had to hold it up to her ear and couldn't even hear it. The psychologist had done a hearing test on me...my hearing from the nerves in brain come as much louder, so someone talking can sound like someone yelling sometimes, as well. So how does it feel to be autistic when you are overstimulated? It feels like: 20 cologne smells (all people around you are wearing different things, etc. Autistics smell all of it), like hundred of kids running around you asking you questions in different languages, like you're sitting in a chair that is missing one leg and trying to balance it while all that is going on, and lights flickering...too much, hence why autistics have Meltdowns.

Starting meltdown w/ Autistic kid 'cause of overstimulation starts at 1:11 seconds on video below:
- Adorable kids and big family; its hard to take care of meltdowns w/ that many!

TIP: Take care of meltdowns right away or they can get to even worse like throwing things around, hitting, biting, etc.


This mother in this near video did good diversion techniques http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDUMRrNamk0 watch!!!


Also: They happen because of change


--I had gone to a wedding and afterwards, I was crying for an hour until I fell asleep. Its just too much, but therapies really help along with some tinted glasses, not too much, but they are made for Autistic people, they look almost clear...hard to explain really. Also have a fidget along helps, and animal interaction huge!, etc. And a swing to go away and swing in. Also, floursecent light are awful....feel like burning your eyes, literally and they make a lot of 'humming'....horrible lights.

Do they know what is going on during a meltdown...what happens and why?