Autistic burnout.

I got this idea and blog title from Neurodivergent Rebel, and like her, I can only really say how burnout affects me.

Burnout is defined as a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. With autistic people, it can be less prolonged than that.

I always stress that autism is not a mental problem, it is neurological, but burnout certainly is. The last time it happened to me it was just an air trip that left me is such a worn out and tired state that I was unable to navigate around my home area 48 hours later.

Last year’s holiday was some trip. A meltdown on the first morning and burnout on returning home. The rest of the time was actually relaxing and refreshing, the most stressful thing was deciding which restaurant to eat at. (This was after the meltdown, and was actually stressful.)

I also have a chronic medical condition so I can overdo it on the physical pain side, an autistic side effect means I often don’t feel pain whilst doing things, but I feel it when I stop. In spades.

The effect of this with the other things I struggle with, bright or flickering light and background noise. Can bring me to burn out fairly quickly and the only way out is to spend a few days sleeping for England, at least 10 to 12 hours sleep for a few consecutive nights. Until that is over conversations and particularly navigation are difficult and tiring.

That’s my additional bit, for the rest visit Neurodivergent Rebel.