Summary: Autistic Burnout Symptoms Autistic burnout can look like many things, but most commonly, it shows itself as extreme exhaustion, increased sensory sensitives, loss of executive functioning skills, decreased ability to manage emotions, difficulty adapting to change, and depression.
Some common signs of autistic burnout include:
Exhaustion. Depression. Irritability. Regression in skills (speech, cognitive skills, executive functioning skills, self-control, etc.)
''Autistic burnout is a state of physical and mental fatigue, heightened stress, and diminished capacity to manage life skills, sensory input, and/or social interactions, which comes from years of being severely overtaxed by the strain of trying to live up to demands that are out of sync with our needs.''
Unlike regular burnout, which is typically linked to work-related or other life demands, autistic burnout results from the cumulative effort of being autistic – navigating social, sensory, and cognitive demands that often do not accommodate the needs and experiences of autistic individuals.
'Feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; increased mental distance from one job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one's job; and reduced professional efficacy. ' Autistic burnout is described as the result of long term stress on the autistic or neurodivergent person.
The three primary characteristics of neurodivergent burnout include: Chronic exhaustion, reduced tolerance to stimulus, and loss of skills (e.g., reduced executive functioning such as thinking, remembering, creating and executing plans, performing basic self-care skills, and activities in daily living).
What is Overstimulation? Overstimulation (OS) occurs when there is “too much” of some external stimulus or stimuli for a person's brain to process and integrate effectively. This leads to an unpleasant sensation of being flooded and an impulse to escape the stimulus – or, failing that, to cry or scream or thrash about.
Learn More. Or call (313) 972-9009. The term “autism masking” is used to describe behaviors used by people with ASD to suppress or hide the signature characteristics of the disorder. It can also mean mirroring the behavior of neurotypical people and developing “scripts” that work in social situations.
Autistic burnout can last for hours, days, weeks, months, and some years.
It is often characterized by feelings of overwhelming fatigue, reduced productivity, and a sense of hopelessness or despair. Those experiencing ADHD burnout may find it even more challenging than usual to initiate and complete tasks, maintain focus and attention, and regulate their emotions.
Too much sensory input can result in a shutdown. Don't miss out on our special offer. Children with autism also tend to be very attached to routines. Unexpected events or sudden changes in plan may cause a lot of stress, leading to a shutdown.
Autistic burnout might look like:
Difficulty with skills such as speech and language, executive function, self-regulation. Heightened sensory sensitivity or need for more sensory input. Increase in mental health issues like anxiety and depression.
Two antipsychotic medications called Risperdal (risperidone), and Abilify (aripiprazole), have both been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in children with autism. Antipsychotics work by, “blocking dopamine receptors in the brain.
The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network recognizes meltdowns as a common externalized behavior, particularly among autistic children and adolescents. Although older autistic individuals may also experience meltdowns, not all autistic people have them.
Seek support: Don't be afraid to talk to someone about how you're feeling. This could be a therapist, counselor, or someone you trust in the Autistic community. Create a sensory-supportive environment: Make your living and work spaces as comfortable and supportive as possible.
However, some patients experience severe functional decline after a relatively stable childhood usually during adolescence or early adulthood, a phenomenon that can be called late regression. As opposed to early regression, this process occurs in persons who have already been diagnosed with autism.
During a meltdown, we found that most autistics described feeling overwhelmed by information, senses, and social and emotional stress. They often felt extreme emotions, such as anger, sadness, and fear, and had trouble with thinking and memory during the meltdown.
Autistic fatigue is a state of extreme mental, physical and/or sensory exhaustion. When the body's resources are overworked, it can result in fatigue. This can then lead on to burnout. Burnout is the body's response to being in a prolonged state of stress and frustration.
Mirroring movement is a simple play activity that involves copying someone's movements, like you're in a mirror. Mirroring movement activities help children with disability, autism or other additional needs improve their physical coordination and gross motor skills.
The mental and emotional energy it takes to mask often results in an unleashing of pent up emotions when back in their safe place, most often at home. This is known as the coke bottle effect.
There are three major areas of undiagnosed autism in adults. Those include social interactions, verbal and nonverbal communication, and repetitive or ritualistic behaviors.
Meltdowns are not the only way an autistic person may express feeling overwhelmed. They may also refuse to interact, withdrawing from situations they find challenging or avoiding them altogether.
Understimulation is when there is not enough sensory input or feelings, so the person may stim their own stimulation of their senses. Overstimulation is where there are too many sensory inputs, and the person may stim to control the overwhelmed feeling they have.
Stimming is often very enjoyable and a way to reduce stress and so it shouldn't be stopped or reduced. However, stimming can sometimes be self-injurious, for example, head-banging or scratching.