What is Autistic Burnout?
Autism researchers define Autistic burnout as a period of extreme fatigue that many Autistic people experience at some point in their lives. For some people on the spectrum, the intense physical and psychological exhaustion caused by burnout leads to temporary impairment of their executive functioning skills. This means that people on the spectrum with strong cognitive skills and language abilities may struggle to carry out common tasks. Insights from the Autistic community suggest that the pressure of living in a world created for neurotypical people and performing neurotypical behaviour leads to burnout.
According to experts, burnout involves increased sensitivity or reduced tolerance to stimuli, chronic exhaustion, and loss of executive functioning skills. These symptoms may last for long periods of time and affect a person’s education, employment, and social interactions. Many Autistic individuals experience their first burnout during adolescence, after graduating from school, or as a result of other life changes.
Autistic burnout has negative effects on physical and mental health. Sensory overstimulation and loss of valuable skills associated with burnout can lead to anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Therefore, Autistic people going through burnout may be unable to live independently without compassionate support.
Autistic Burnout Symptoms
Constantly attempting to function in a society constructed for non-Autistic (allistic) people leads to Autistic burnout. Hiding potentially challenging Autistic traits (also known as masking) takes a lot of effort and brain energy. This leads to an exhaustion of internal resources and subsequent difficulty in partaking in everyday activities. Without adequate coping strategies and professional support, Autistic people can experience various physical, psychological, and cognitive symptoms.
Physical Symptoms
Autistic people going through burnout usually feel exhausted and devoid of physical and emotional energy. When these symptoms cannot be explained by a physical illness, excessive exercise or malnourishment, they are likely to be caused by Autistic burnout. Common physical symptoms of Autistic burnout include the following:
- Intense fatigue and physical exhaustion
- Increased sensitivity to sensory input and tendency towards overstimulation
- Extreme lethargy, need to sleep, and inability to get out of bed
- Struggles with social interaction
Psychological Symptoms
During a period of Autistic burnout, the person may feel excessively emotional and unable to control their feelings. Even small events can contribute to strong reactions of anger and discomfort. These are the common psychological symptoms of burnout in individuals on the Autism spectrum:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Irritability
- Social withdrawal
- Distorted self-image and decreased confidence
- A tendency towards substance abuse, self-harm, and suicidal ideation (in severe cases)
Cognitive and Emotional Signs
Cognitive and emotional symptoms of Autistic burnout are closely linked to the physical signs. Autistic burnout leads to disruption in the person’s thinking process and loss of executive functioning skills. This causes the following cognitive and emotional indications:
- Inability to focus during a conversation and process information
- Slower and more laborious thought process
- Shortened attention span
- Difficulty solving problems and finding words to express one’s emotions
Root Causes of Autistic Burnout
Spending time in a world that favours neurotypical people and demands efforts to mask Autistic features has a cumulative effect on individuals with Autism. Without adequate support and encouragement of Autistic strengths, an Autistic person can suffer from chronic life stress and various mental health challenges.
These are the common factors that can lead to Autistic burnout:
- Working hard to suppress Autistic traits (e.g. stimming and repetitive behaviours) and performing neurotypical behaviour over a long period of time
- Unrealistically high expectations from parents, teachers, employers, and society in general
- Stress from navigating life in environments that lack accommodation for Autistic people
- Significant transitions and life changes, such as transitioning from school to the workplace, the death of a loved one, or a mental health crisis
- Dismissal of Autistic needs and gaslighting from neurotypical people
- Inability to set clear boundaries, take a break, or ask for help
- A sense of pervasive stress that cannot go away after short breaks
- Lack of social support and access to adequate disability services
Strategies for Managing Autistic Burnout
Handling Autistic burnout starts with managing your energy levels and giving yourself time to recharge your batteries. When you make plans related to school or work responsibilities, make sure to include time for relaxation. During this free time, you can spend time with family members or friends, indulge in your favourite hobbies, or just get enough rest. Constant hiding of your Autistic features is the main cause of burnout, which means it is crucial to take valuable breaks from masking.
Practising self-compassion and gentleness with oneself is a vital part of self-care during Autistic burnout. Remove any unnecessary tasks from your schedule and make time for soothing activities, especially hobbies that give you a sense of relaxation. Autistic adults struggling with burnout symptoms can benefit from spending time in nature, listening to music, drawing, journaling, or practising mindfulness.
Finally, sensory interventions can help Autistic people manage burnout. You can curb sensory overstimulation by using noise-cancelling headphones, compression, or staying in a sensory room. Autistic burnout can also affect the person’s circadian rhythm and lead to sleep disturbances. Therefore, it is advisable to get cosy in bed with your favourite books or movies instead of scrolling through social media or watching the news.
Preventing Autistic Burnout
Self-advocacy is a vital step towards preventing Autistic burnout. Autistic adults can significantly benefit from setting healthy boundaries and making neurotypical individuals around them aware of their lived experiences. You can reduce your mental load by taking more breaks, avoiding stressful social activities, and asking for help from your relatives, peers, or coworkers.
Most Autistic individuals face enormous pressure to prove themselves and excel in a society that doesn’t acknowledge their complex needs. When executive function demands get overwhelming, reducing expectations is a crucial part of self-advocacy for people on the Autism spectrum. Discuss your needs with supportive people in your environment and seek professional support. Adjustments at school and the workplace are a human right for individuals on the spectrum that can prevent the disabling effect of burnout.
Unique Community Services Supports Autistic Individuals
At Unique Community Services, we provide compassionate support according for Autistic people with burnout symptoms. Our dedicated clinicians aim to dismantle the stigma around Autistic traits and deliver humanised, person-centred care to individuals experiencing burnout. With the help of our team, individuals on the spectrum can prevent burnout or get their executive functioning back on track after experiencing Autistic burnout.
In order to meet Autistic people’s needs during burnout, we work closely with the individual, family members and specialists to assess their health conditions and personal boundaries. Our impact-driven clinicians create carefully tailored care plans for every individual. This way, we deliver dignified support for Autistic people in their own homes, allowing them to stay close to their loved ones.
If you need a quality home care provider for yourself or a loved one struggling with Autistic burnout, Unique Community Services is the right place for you. Our trained care team provides comprehensive home support for autistic people in Bristol and Manchester.
Contact us now, and we will outline a personalised plan catering to your individual needs.
