Burnout

            Burnout may be a term you have heard before, most likely used in an Allistic framework. All people can suffer from burnout. When one has too many commitments, when a person feels that they don’t have enough time to recharge their batteries, when they feel unappreciated, touched out, stretched too thin at work and at home, everyone is vulnerable to burnout. Recovering from short burnout, can mean paying more attention to lifestyle for a few weeks, but when people fall into states of severe burnout it can take months to recover.

            Burnout is not a condition listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual and there isn’t really a consistent definition for the condition but a 2020 study by Raymaker and other authors, attempted to narrow down the idea of Autistic burnout by interviewing Autistic people. Autistic people develop burnout that is more severe and distinct from depression or occupational burnout (Raymaker, et al., 2020). Symptoms of Autistic burnout can include a loss of skills, exhaustion and reduced tolerance to sensory inputs, lasting more than 3 months (Raymaker, et al., 2020). Autistic burnout is related to the additional demands that affect Autistic people when trying to function in a world not designed for them. Additional stressors include a lack of accommodation and an inability to meet their needs. When expectations outweigh ability burnout is the result (Raymaker, et al., 2020).

How is Burnout Addressed?

            The current reality is that we don’t know exactly how to address Autistic burnout, there hasn't been enough research to come up with conclusive results. The study run by Raymaker et. al. indicates that individual support, community support, peer support, attending to needs, unmasking, using Autistic strengths, accommodations, mental health supports, time off, social withdrawal, reduction activities, boundaries, being healthy, recognizing burnout early, ASD diagnosis and making strategic decisions (2020) were all helpful in reducing the length and intensity of burnout.

            A reduction in masking (pretending to be allistic) can be useful for Autistic people in states of burnout. Dropping the mask can be tricky though. Workplaces and families used to one presentation of an Autistic person can be surprised to see them “appearing to be more Autistic” and this can lead to push back. Over time masking leads to a separation from the core of the personality, it makes it harder to feel Autistic joy and even to understand what would make the person joyful which is why dropping the mask is important.

            For people experiencing less severe burnout, paying more attention to rest, Autistic joy and boundaries can help to mitigate burnout. Part of my work with clients is helping you to discern what you need to feel more Autistic joy, and what boundaries would help you to feel less burnout.

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Definitions (According to Raymaker et. al.)

Loss of Skills

            Loss of skills refers to a reduced ability to remember tasks, use vocational skills, socializing, even living independently (Raymaker, et al., 2020).

Chronic Exhaustion

            “A depletion of energy from overextending themselves in daily life” (Raymaker, et al., 2020).

Reduced Tolerance to Stimulus

            An increase in responsiveness to environmental stimulation with a converse inability to tune sensory inputs out. This increased overstimulation, meltdowns, shutdowns and increased avoidance activities the person might have once enjoyed (Raymaker, et al., 2020). 

 

Raymaker, D., Teo, A., Steckler, N., Lentz, B., Scharer, M., Santos, A., . . . Nicolaidis, C. (2020, June 10). Having All of your Internal Resources Exhausted Beyond Measure and Being Left with No Clean Up Crew: Defining Autistic Burnout. Autism in Adulthood, 2(2). Retrieved from https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/aut.2019.0079