That feeling of freezing, the brain locked up, unable to process alternative ideas, feeling pushed especially when the other person demonstrates an emotional reaction.
Looks like: Doesn’t want to consider other points of view; argumentative, freezing others out.
Unless this locked up position continues even after de-escalation, “stubborn” is not a choice but part of an adrenal response based in panic.
The Reality: Stubbornness can be an expression of the “freeze” response. Especially in the immediate moment and/or in person, stubborn reactions feel like the only option for some autistics because of the anxiety in trying to scramble to think through a problem.
This is part of why I prefer to communicate potentially volatile conversations through writing as a buffer between my thoughts and actions.
