Autistic Burnout

What is Autistic Burnout?

Autistic individuals may experience Autistic burnout due to the cumulative effects of consistently applying significant effort to engage in tasks and social situations that come more naturally to non-Autistic people. This can be an exhausting process.

For example – the need to mask or suppress one’s Autistic traits in order to fit in with neurotypical expectations can be extremely draining and contribute to burnout.

Autistic burnout should be taken very seriously.

Autistic burnout may involve a decrease in a capacity to live a truly authentic Autistic life, decreased cognitive capacity, physical and emotional fatigue, and the loss of abilities the person previously possessed.

What causes Autistic Burnout?

Autistic burnout can be triggered by major life changes, increased demands, sensory overload, or other stressful events that neurotypical individuals may manage more easily. A major life change is defined uniquely by each Autistic person and there is not one singular standard of what a “major life change” may mean from one Autistic person to the next.

Recovering from autistic burnout requires a period of rest, reduced demands, and rebuilding effective coping mechanisms. This is not a quick or simple process.

Recognizing and taking steps to prevent burnout is an important part of self-care and maintaining wellbeing for many autistic people.

Autistic Burnout Possible Causes

• Sensory overload from prolonged exposure to overwhelming environments
• Constant demands to “mask” or suppress autistic traits to fit NT expectations.
• Difficulty with task switching, transitions, and adapting to changes.
• Lack of access to appropriate accommodations.
• Excessive social interaction.
• Excessive emotional labor required to maintain relationships.
• Difficulty regulating emotions and managing the stress of daily life.
• Chronic health conditions that add to the daily pressure.
• Inadequate rest, relaxation, and time for self-care activities.
• Sensory processing that make daily tasks and environments draining.
• Perfectionism and an inability to accept “good enough” performance.
• Lack of control over one’s environment, schedule, or decision-making.
• Overwhelming executive functioning differences, leading to difficulty with organization and planning.
• Inadequate access to mental health support, counseling, or therapy.

What Autistic Burnout can look like

Autistic burnout can look like:

• Diminished capacity for self care
• Disrupted sleep patterns
• Ingestion and Digestion difficulties
• Cloudy thinking
• Increasingly difficult to process information
• Executive functioning difficulties
• Short and long term memory difficulties
• Increased physical symptoms (pain – illness)
• Weakened immune system
• Exacerbation of pre-existing medical conditions
• Difficulty managing chronic health conditions
• Neglecting preventive healthcare
• Decreased motivation
• Difficulty regulating emotions
• Increased sensory sensitivities
• Increased reliance on unhealthy coping mechanisms
• Neglecting to maintain living space
• Difficulty allocating time and energy for relaxation
• Increasing disregard for personal safety
• Increasing difficulty asking for or accepting help
• Increased irritability
• Difficulty completing household chores
• Increasingly withdrawing from social activities
• Struggling to be present and engaged
• Struggling to communicate needs
• Difficulty maintaining healthy boundaries
• Increasingly needing significantly more time alone to recharge
• Difficulty concentrating and staying focused
• Increasingly resistance to changes in routine
• Increasingly feeling overwhelmed or easily fatigued
• Difficulty making decisions
• Feeling a loss of skills or abilities that were once present

Autistic Burnout in Real life

If you want to listen to a lived experience account of what it is like to go into Autistic burnout, you may find the below Youtube Video helpful.