Autistic burnout is a state of intense mental, emotional, or physical exhaustion experienced by some autistic people.[1][2] It is linked with a loss of skills and function as well as increased sensitivity to stimuli.[3][4] Social withdrawal has been described both as a characteristic of and a response to autistic burnout.[4][5][6] Autistic burnout is caused by masking or camouflaging or, more generally, the stress resulting from living in a neurotypical environment that does not sufficiently accommodate needs of autistic people.[2][5]

Research

Initially discussed informally within the autistic community, especially on blogs and social media,[7] autistic burnout has been the subject of research since the late 2010s,[1][5] as an example of the growing influence of autistic self-advocacy on academic autism research.[1][3]

As of 2023, research suggests that autistic burnout may differ from clinical depression and occupational burnout in both etiology and presentation.[2][3][8] In contrast to depression, anhedonia and sleep problems are not typically reported as symptoms of autistic burnout.[3] In contrast to occupational burnout, autistic burnout does not necessarily have to relate to employment[4] and goes along with increased sensory sensitivity.[9]: 186  Autistic burnout further differs from occupational burnout in that the latter is widely recognized and thus more readily validated by others, making it easier to receive the support needed for recovery.[9]: 186 

Management

Autistic burnout can last from months to years.[1][2] To recover from burnout, it is generally recommended that autistic people withdraw themselves from the situations that triggered it,[1][4] which can be difficult if stressors are related to the workplace.[9]: 187  Further, spending time with special interests, stimming, and "unmasking" have been reported as helpful.[4][9]: 187 [10]

Early recognition of autistic burnout can help with management, as it generally occurs when demands build up over time. However, this is complicated by the fact that many autistic people can also experience alexithymia and impaired interoception.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Deweerdt, Sarah (2020-03-30). "Autistic burnout, explained". Spectrum. Simons Foundation. doi:10.53053/bpzp2355. S2CID 251634477. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Arnold, Samuel RC; Higgins, Julianne M; Weise, Janelle; Desai, Aishani; Pellicano, Elizabeth; Trollor, Julian N (2023). "Confirming the nature of autistic burnout" (PDF). Autism. 27 (7): 1906–1918. doi:10.1177/13623613221147410. PMID 36637293. S2CID 255773489.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Raymaker, Dora M.; Teo, Alan R.; Steckler, Nicole A.; Lentz, Brandy; Scharer, Mirah; Delos Santos, Austin; Kapp, Steven K.; Hunter, Morrigan; Joyce, Andee; Nicolaidis, Christina (2020). ""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): 132–143. doi:10.1089/aut.2019.0079. PMC 7313636. PMID 32851204.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Higgins, Julianne M; Arnold, Samuel RC; Weise, Janelle; Pellicano, Elizabeth; Trollor, Julian N (2021). "Defining autistic burnout through experts by lived experience: Grounded Delphi method investigating #AutisticBurnout". Autism. 25 (8): 2356–2369. doi:10.1177/13623613211019858. PMID 34088219. S2CID 235346830.
  5. 1 2 3 Arnold, Samuel RC; Higgins, Julianne M; Weise, Janelle; Desai, Aishani; Pellicano, Elizabeth; Trollor, Julian N (2023). "Towards the measurement of autistic burnout". Autism. 27 (7): 1933–1948. doi:10.1177/13623613221147401. PMID 36637292. S2CID 255774785.
  6. 1 2 Mantzalas, Jane; Richdale, Amanda L.; Dissanayake, Cheryl (2022). "A conceptual model of risk and protective factors for autistic burnout". Autism Research. 15 (6): 976–987. doi:10.1002/aur.2722. PMID 35416430. S2CID 248128834.
  7. ↑ Mantzalas, Jane; Richdale, Amanda L.; Adikari, Achini; Lowe, Jennifer; Dissanayake, Cheryl (2022). "What Is Autistic Burnout? A Thematic Analysis of Posts on Two Online Platforms". Autism in Adulthood. 4 (1): 52–65. doi:10.1089/aut.2021.0021. PMC 8992925. PMID 36605565.
  8. ↑ Tomczak, Michał T.; Kulikowski, Konrad (2023). "Toward an understanding of occupational burnout among employees with autism – the Job Demands-Resources theory perspective". Current Psychology: 1–13. doi:10.1007/s12144-023-04428-0. PMC 9958323. PMID 37359683.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Sedgewick, Felicity; Hull, Laura; Ellis, Helen (2022). Autism and Masking: How and Why People Do It, and the Impact It Can Have. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. ISBN 978-1-78775-580-2. OCLC 1287133295.
  10. ↑ Raymaker, Dora (2022-03-01). "Understanding autistic burnout". www.autism.org.uk. National Autistic Society. Retrieved 2023-05-09.

Further reading

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