Autistic Burnout - Tumblr Posts
people will hear you talk about struggling with mental illness and say “you can do anything if you just put your mind to it”. brother what part of the body does the mental illness happen in. what do you think is the problem
Source ~ Autism Women's Network
What is Autistic Burnout?
Signs:
Lack of motivation (hard to care about goals when everyday life is overwhelming)
Loss of executive functioning abilities (decision making, organisation etc)
Difficulty with self care
Easier to reach overload or meltdown
Loss of speech, selective mutism
Lethargy, exhaustion
Illness, digestive issues
Memory loss
Inability to maintain masks or use social skills
Overall seeming "more autisic" or stereotypical
May have a period of high energy before collapse
Causes:
Passing as neurotypical/suppressing traits
Doing "too much", too much stress
Ageing: needing more downtime, having less energy
Changes, good or bad (relationships, jobs, living arrangements, belongings, environment, routines...)
Sleep deprivation, poor nutrition, dehydration
Illness
Sensory or emotional overload
Strategies:
Time
Scheduling breaks, managing spoons
Leave of absence
Stimming, sensory diet
Exercise
Massage
Reminders and support
Routines
Better environment/job/etc
Boundaries, saying 'no'
Dropping the mask/facade
Solitude
Absolute quiet
Creative projects, passions, special interests
Paying attention to reactions and your body
Source ~ Autism Women's Network
What is Autistic Burnout?
Signs:
Lack of motivation (hard to care about goals when everyday life is overwhelming)
Loss of executive functioning abilities (decision making, organisation etc)
Difficulty with self care
Easier to reach overload or meltdown
Loss of speech, selective mutism
Lethargy, exhaustion
Illness, digestive issues
Memory loss
Inability to maintain masks or use social skills
Overall seeming "more autisic" or stereotypical
May have a period of high energy before collapse
Causes:
Passing as neurotypical/suppressing traits
Doing "too much", too much stress
Ageing: needing more downtime, having less energy
Changes, good or bad (relationships, jobs, living arrangements, belongings, environment, routines...)
Sleep deprivation, poor nutrition, dehydration
Illness
Sensory or emotional overload
Strategies:
Time
Scheduling breaks, managing spoons
Leave of absence
Stimming, sensory diet
Exercise
Massage
Reminders and support
Routines
Better environment/job/etc
Boundaries, saying 'no'
Dropping the mask/facade
Solitude
Absolute quiet
Creative projects, passions, special interests
Paying attention to reactions and your body
Fuck it I’m re-blogging my stuff from my other blogs here. If you follow my please Consider Giving me a moment of your time-
This is the main character to my ongoing original series “Yumiku’s guide to the human world”
Its about a demon who gets trapped in the human world after a spell gone wrong- but under that simple explanation is a character learning about himself, learning how to be more social In a world that doesn’t understand him. And most of all covering topics of autistic issues and common shared experiences and how to handle them in a healthy way.
If you love shows with magic, and silly shenanigans while also hitting home and digging deep into topics of mental health and disability’s please consider supporting the show! Personally I was sick and tired of seeing BAD autistic rep in media
so far I only have a teaser episode out but I’m in the progress of writing a episode two and It should be done by august!
Fully colored character ref for miku! Fun little fact about miku his favorite color is orange! ((I promise I’m working on the next episode it’s just been a process with some other things I’m working on recently.))
This whole past week has felt like "WHAT THE FUCK I THOUGHT I HAD MY SHIT TOGETHER I AM AN ADULT WHAT THE FUCK?!?!" 😒 (You can feel free to message me about it but I'm a very busy man)
ok i’m done being crazy lol
I feel this bone deep tiredness that comes from not being able to rest wheb you need to and it's getting pretty fucking old at this point
Source ~ My Autistic Soul
Autistic Burnout : A Guide
What is Autisic Burnout?
When an autistic person is in burnout, it means that they are experiencing extreme mental, physical, and/or sensory exhaustion.
This exhaustion can stem from a variety of places, especially from masking, and can lead to an even larger variety of symptoms.
It can last a few hours or several years
It can be the result of a slow build-up or it can hit suddenly
The effects of burnout (especially loss of skills) are more likely to be permanent if the burnout has lasted several years
It is more common in adolescents and adults
It is different than neurotypical burnout and regular depression
It affects every area of your life
It requires more time to recover
What Causes Autistic Burnout?
Masking
Too high of expectations
Lack of support
High intensity interactions (concert, party)
Prolonged interaction (school, work)
Sensory overload
Suppressing autistic traits
Operating beyond capacity
Not being able to recover from or cope with stress at the beginning signs
Change
What are the Signs of Autistic Burnout?
Anxiety
Increased shutdowns or meltdowns
Depression
Suicidal ideation
Little to no motivation
Loss of interest
Loss of basic skills
Exhaustion
Increased executive dysfunction
Difficulties with memory, communicating or sleep
Easily triggered/overstimulated
Headaches/migraines
You may seem “more autistic”
Difficulties in making decisions
Low attention span
How to Prevent/Cope with Autistics Burnout
Accommodations (in work, school, and everyday life)
Say no
Find community (on social media or in person)
Take breaks (often)
Let autistic traits breathe
Get rid of expectations
Therapy (especially for prolonged burnout)
Leave, even if it seems rude
Engage in simple self-care
Learn to manage energy
Stim
Ask for help
Rest
Set boundaries
Put yourself first
Identify your triggers
Autistic burnout is largely fueled by having to navigate a world that was not made for us. And so, burnout is nearly inevitable for autistics.
Burnout is exhausting, overwhelming and scary. It is something a lot of is deal with on a daily basis without even realising what it is. It has become our normal way of existing.
Recovering from, preventing, and coping with burnout is not a quick and easy fix. It is a lifetime process of taking care of and being gentle with ourselves. Which is hard, my dudes, not gonna lie.
But we’re some tough sons of bitches.
My mom just described my literal symptoms of autism back to me and I'm like "yeah I'm autistic dip shit my brain literally works differently" she's being a bit of a bitch right now because she and my entire family other than me shouted at grandpa for his brain working differently than theirs and it makes me feel shitty.
Quote from my mom "I know you're smart but sometimes you're really illogical."
"you live in your own little world and then all of a sudden you're back and everyone's like 'Come on already'"
I know this. I've always known this do you want me to hold a sign that says I may have autism and ADHD? I need advice for actual ways to get through this and stuff.
Like I know school where I live is like two months away but I also know that for a little while in school I'll be fine turning my shit in and then all of a sudden something will happen and I'll stop. Reminders don't help, nothing helps and I'm tired of it
My mom just described my literal symptoms of autism back to me and I'm like "yeah I'm autistic dip shit my brain literally works differently" she's being a bit of a bitch right now because she and my entire family other than me shouted at grandpa for his brain working differently than theirs and it makes me feel shitty.
"You could d-" NO, no, that's not how it works. Don't tell me what I should do or ought to be doing. I'm not a child, I'm experiencing a wave of severe depression. What I *need* is some adequate therapy and a private swimming pool, and to be left alone.
I feel very bored again. I've once again fallen into thw deadly trap of having nothing to do and no idea what I could do. Just part of the experience when it comes to burnout and a lack of hyperfixations, I suppose.
I'm an outwardly neutral person most of the time. But when I'm at my wit's end like autistic burnout, or I'm withdrawing off prescription meds (like I am now), I can feel the flood barrier in my eyes degrading. The mask comes off for a millisecond. And it's for the most random, stupid shit, too. Something just has to be joyful to make my eyes well. Literally, I just read:
"In 1972, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn’t commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, If no one else can help and if you can find them. Maybe you can hire, The A-Team."
And my eyes welled up and I was momentarily faced with an overwhelming sadness combined with happy/sad tears trying to escape. My mind goes,
"The A-Team brought so much joy every Saturday morning to children and adults all over. It was all so beautiful then, and nobody can have it anymore. We'll never have that world back. Nothing will ever be the same again. It's just so nostalgic. I want everyone to be happy and watch The A-Team."
The point here is that I'm not known to cry by anyone I know. But even the seemingly emotionally strongest of us are just really good at hiding it and throwing it away. Could be from masking, could be from conditioning. Either way, the A-Team intro message momentarily brought tears to my eyes, and that was funny enough to me to post on Tumblr.
It's okay to experience moments or days or weeks of hypersensitivity, empathy on overdrive, or just random bursts or overwhelming emotions brought on by random things. That can just mean we've been holding it all in for too long. We're at max capacity.
Let yourself feel. I certainly don't. I shut it down immediately out of some sick instinct. Don't be like me. Have a full Häagen-Dazs cry fest about outdated action shows.