‘Autistic burnout,’ to quote the National Library of Medicine, “describe[s] a state of incapacitation, exhaustion, and distress in every area of life.”
An autistic individual on Reddit, meanwhile, recalls an extended period of such incapacitation in greater detail: the need for reduced socialization and environmental stimulation, pruning back of tasks, an inability to mask autistic behavior, irritability alternating with apathy, and loss in special interests and hobbies.
Even the sound of the redditor’s pet dog chewing on a toy was too much for her nerves.
Depression looks like autistic burnout and vice versa, but I’ve heard the difference is that the former results in lack of motivation, while the latter in lack of ability.
That said, I’m certain that multiple unexpected major events triggered my case of burnout in October 2015, the year I was also diagnosed with autism. My ordeal lasted several days; I’ve heard cases that last weeks, months—occasionally years.
Sometimes autistic burnout is an avalanche, sometimes it’s slowly rising flood water.
I don’t recall ever suffering from serious physical impairment during burnout. I fumble with small objects. It’s difficult to describe but either one hand or the other goes numb for a quarter-second. I hip-check counters and bump off door frames, as if I’ve momentarily forgotten my spatial relation to physical objects. Mentally, my symptoms are brain fog and apathy.
Looking back, I experienced this in college, carrying a full load of art courses led to mediocrity in my work. After graduation it was a long time before I touched a pencil or paintbrush. When I did come about again, however, I produced my best pieces.
I mention this because burnout is like bad weather: you can study for signs of it, prepare for it, but you can’t prevent it. Rain will rain. That’s just how it is. So, when I hear talk of ‘preventing’ burnout, I don’t buy it. It makes no more sense than Dust Bowl attempts to seed clouds. Rain will rain when it rains.
And if complete prevention were possible, is it even desirable? Isn’t this like permanently shutting off a safety valve?
It’s a difficult topic for me to address because burnout looks and feels different from autistic to autistic. What I can suggest is to follow general guidelines:
An autistic individual on Reddit, meanwhile, recalls an extended period of such incapacitation in greater detail: the need for reduced socialization and environmental stimulation, pruning back of tasks, an inability to mask autistic behavior, irritability alternating with apathy, and loss in special interests and hobbies.
Even the sound of the redditor’s pet dog chewing on a toy was too much for her nerves.
Depression looks like autistic burnout and vice versa, but I’ve heard the difference is that the former results in lack of motivation, while the latter in lack of ability.
That said, I’m certain that multiple unexpected major events triggered my case of burnout in October 2015, the year I was also diagnosed with autism. My ordeal lasted several days; I’ve heard cases that last weeks, months—occasionally years.
Sometimes autistic burnout is an avalanche, sometimes it’s slowly rising flood water.
I don’t recall ever suffering from serious physical impairment during burnout. I fumble with small objects. It’s difficult to describe but either one hand or the other goes numb for a quarter-second. I hip-check counters and bump off door frames, as if I’ve momentarily forgotten my spatial relation to physical objects. Mentally, my symptoms are brain fog and apathy.
Looking back, I experienced this in college, carrying a full load of art courses led to mediocrity in my work. After graduation it was a long time before I touched a pencil or paintbrush. When I did come about again, however, I produced my best pieces.
I mention this because burnout is like bad weather: you can study for signs of it, prepare for it, but you can’t prevent it. Rain will rain. That’s just how it is. So, when I hear talk of ‘preventing’ burnout, I don’t buy it. It makes no more sense than Dust Bowl attempts to seed clouds. Rain will rain when it rains.
And if complete prevention were possible, is it even desirable? Isn’t this like permanently shutting off a safety valve?
It’s a difficult topic for me to address because burnout looks and feels different from autistic to autistic. What I can suggest is to follow general guidelines:
- Accept your limits and remember others have them, too. Put bluntly, where is the gold medalist at life? I’d like an autograph, please.
- Limit stimuli as needed, environmental, social, and mental. This includes screen time and doomscrolling. Even Facebook reads like the Temu Book of Revelation these days.
- Add sensory modifications to this list, be they headphones, tinted glasses, blackout curtains, whatever is needed. Any blanket becomes a weighted blanket with help of a pet.
- If it is possible to engage again with a special interest or interests, do so.
- Do not completely disengage with life, this will likely lead to depression and even worse burnout. Think of yourself as a drained car battery. You need that jump, if only just to run for a while.
Mike Minnis is a guest blogger and client.
His books can be purchased on Amazon.
Visit his website at: www.michaelminnisbooks.com/index.htm
His books can be purchased on Amazon.
Visit his website at: www.michaelminnisbooks.com/index.htm