# Why Vaccines and Autism _SEEM_ to be linked Have you ever considered it wasn't the shot itself, but the trauma of the shot? Autistic people are extremely susceptible to trauma and getting shots can be very traumatic even for allistic children. However, trauma effects autistic people differently. It forms a nearly tangible wall around us because we want to do everything in our power not to experience that trauma again. Our brains try to rationalize and figure out what caused it and sometimes without us even knowing it, our brain will come up with an answer that might not be completely rational--especially when we're children. For some kids, maybe their brain has decided that talking is what led to the trauma. Maybe their brain decided that if no one listens to them, then it's not worth it to talk. I don't have the answers. Only my theories and my experience as an autistic person who does sometimes have a lot of trouble speaking when I'm in meltdown. Heck, maybe some autistic kids are just in constant meltdown mode. We have no idea. I do know that when I'm in meltdown, I'm sensory seeking when I'm normally sensory avoidant, I don't talk, and I behave in a way that I normally don't and it doesn't always look like anger--it can look like a type of mania. Luckily, I haven't had a meltdown in years, but I would always wait until I was alone to have one. Meltdowns are a surreal experience. Another thing to consider...kids get these shots usually right before beginning school, daycare, or some other change in their life. That could also contribute to their regression as those big changes can be very stressful for autistic people and create even more trauma.