Exhaustion (fatigue) and then burnout can happen to anybody. Being autistic can make fatigue and burnout more likely, due to the pressures of social situations and sensory overload. If you are supporting an autistic person who is experiencing fatigue or burnout, helping them to manage their energy levels is essential, as this guide explains.
 

What is autistic fatigue and autistic burnout? 

‘Autistic fatigue’ and ‘autistic burnout’ are terms that came from autistic people, and we are learning from the experiences of autistic adults.  

Fatigue, and then subsequent burnout, can happen to anybody. Autistic people, however, can be more susceptible to both, due to the pressures of everyday life, having to navigate social situations and sensory overload.  

Trying to cope with these pressures can lead to exhaustion (autistic fatigue) and over time this can lead to extreme exhaustion or autistic burnout. 

Autistic people have described various ways that autistic fatigue and burnout have affected them. Autistic fatigue has often been described as exhaustion with additional difficulties such as: 

• increased meltdowns and sensory sensitivity  
• physical pain and headaches 
• physically shutting down, including the loss of speech.  

‘Autism regression’ is sometimes used by professionals to describe situations where adults and young people lose certain skills and functioning. However, autistic regression is a term usually associated with very young children who meet their developmental milestones – such as walking, talking etc - but then start to lose those skills. Among autistic people, autistic burnout appears to be the preferred term. 

Autistic burnout affects all aspects of a person’s life, and this makes it different from professional burnout, which is related to work.
 

What causes autistic fatigue and burnout? 

There are various things that can cause autistic fatigue. Autistic adults suggest several causes, including:  

• sensory overload  
• dealing with social situations  
• masking or camouflaging their autistic traits 
• suppressing stimming  
• a sense of not meeting other people’s/society’s expectations of them. 

Changes in routines or day-to-day life, such as a change of school or job, can increase anxiety and can be additional causes for autistic fatigue and burnout. 

There is limited research in this area but two research studies, focused on autistic women, suggest that autistic women are often completely drained, burnt out and exhausted because they push themselves too far and do not recognise the early warning signs of burnout.
 

How can I support someone experiencing autistic fatigue and burnout? 

Use energy accounting 

One approach is to help the person to use this system to set manageable limits on their energy levels so they do not deplete themselves to the point of burnout.  

They can set a limit on how much energy they have in a day or week and estimate how much certain activities drain them and also work out how much certain activities energise them.  

You can help them to plan and balance their activities and energy over a day or week to try and manage stress limits. Make sure they build in time to relax and recover.  

Time off and rest/relaxation 

Whether you use energy accounting or not, time off from work or school and other high-stress activities is key to managing stress levels. Ensuring time for activities/interests that re-energise and promote relaxation is key. This could be connecting with family and friends or enjoying hobbies or interests.  

At work 

It can be helpful to get people to think about ways to help manage stress levels at work. This could include: 

• keeping track of their workload and telling their manager if it is becoming unmanageable  
• taking regular breaks from work/tasks and making sure they plan and take annual leave. 

Time without having to mask 

Autistic people often feel the need to hide or mask their autistic traits in public, for example by suppressing the urge to stim. It can be important to factor times into the day for things like stimming, somewhere they feel comfortable and able to do so.   

Reducing expectations 

Sometimes the pressure to achieve and meet expectations from employers, family or friends can feel overwhelming. If the person feels there are unmanageable or unrealistic demands placed on them, encourage them to discuss this and get support from the people around them.

Useful resources 

• Raymaker, D. M, Academic Autism Spectrum Partnership in Research and Education (AASPIRE), Autistic burnout: "My physical body and mind started to shut down" (no date)        

Autistic people’s accounts 

• Ronnie Pinder (a self-advocate, consultant, trainer and mentor). Autistic fatigue  
• Undercover Autie (Emma).  Autistic fatigue and exhaustion (2019)  
• Cherry Blossom Tree (Kate). Autistic burnout and regression (2017)   
• The Autistic Advocate (Kieran). An autistic burnout (2018)  
• Ryan Boren. Autistic burnout: the cost of masking and passing (2017)   
• Patrick Dwyer. Burnout and expectations (2019)   
• Amythest Schaber. Ask an autistic #3 - What is autistic burnout? (2014)  

Podcasts:  

• The thrive with Aspergers podcast  - Five autistic burnout recovery tips you need to learn now (2018)  
• CS Wyatt - Autistic burnout (2018)  
• KarlettA - Audio blog My autistic burnout and recovery (2018)