Welcome to the discussion

I wanted to post some information regarding the above topic. I'll have more personal content in the future once I get my head together but in the meantime, I thought I'd share this message as it seems to describe my experience well. The links in the message provide more info on the topic. This is from Dr Neff:

"Have you heard of Autistic burnout? It is a topic that is gaining more attention lately. It is important to understand Autistic burnout and the impact it can have on our mental health and our overall wellness.

Autistic burnout is one of the leading causes of depression for Autistic people, which is why it is so important to understand.

So, what exactly is Autistic burnout? Autistic burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion. It can be caused by various things, like stress, sensory overload, social isolation, or difficulty navigating social or educational systems. Autistic burnout is distinct from other forms of burnout and is characterized by the following three characteristics:

• Chronic exhaustion: Pervasive physical, cognitive and social fatigue

• Reduced tolerance to stimulus: Increased sensory sensitivities and sensitivity to sensory stimuli

• Loss of skills:Many of our executive functioning skills will worsen during burnout. We may struggle with speaking, attention, regulating attention, and other cognitive functions.

There are a variety of factors that can contribute to Autistic burnout. It can be triggered by

• The demands and expectations of neurotypical society

• Challenges navigating a world that is not always accommodating or understanding of neurodiversity.

• Masking and pressure to conform to neurotypical social norms, expectations to communicate or behave in certain ways

• Difficulty accessing accommodations and appropriate supports

If you'd like to learn more about Autistic burnout you can check out my blog post on the topic, where I delve more deeply into the factors that contribute to Autistic burnout."

​

I agree with some of the causes in the blog post, of course different things would affect others in different ways. But these resonate with me: autistic masking, lack of accommodations, executive functioning overload, and the demands and expectations of others.

She also discusses the inability to obtain relief and much more. As Dr Neff says "When a person’s cumulative stress is beyond the person’s ability to cope, Autistic burnout sets in."