Burnout - A candle burned at both ends

Image at the end of this post

Burnout is a word that has been floating around in recent vocabulary, emphasised by the dreaded "p-word".

On the surface, it is characterised by low motivation and low self-confidence. The deeper significance of 'burnout' is its toll on physical and mental health. 

Autism and burnout are not interchangeable:

The latter is a state of mind developed over a specific time span, triggered by external circumstances. 

Autism is lifelong, playing a continuous role in personal development and socialising. 

Burnout is a profound consequence of the stress built up from those challenging circumstances, influenced by specific aspects of Autism, such as anxiety.

Outlining these facts is crucial; there is a wealth of knowledge on Autism layered with ambiguity. Burnout is so personal that generic information is not applicable to every case.

Moreover, the rich tapestry that is burnout amongst autistic individuals creates a barrier between the latter and the neurotypical community.

A quick search on 'autism' and 'burnout' on Google Scholar pulls up articles on burnout in 'carers' and 'teachers' - the autism spectrum is viewed as a factor rather than an independent collective who also experience burnout.

Of course, those with Autism do use the tools at their disposal (written and spoken) to discuss how burnout affects them, which bridges this gap effectively and directly. 

Being our own spokesperson is the most realistic solution against any misassumptions, especially when the subject concerned is as profound as one's wellbeing. Perhaps I am stating the obvious here and should elaborate.

I found the image below on a sensory group page, subsequently inspiring my blog post for today.

What is key here is the direct links between aspects of Autism and their triggers.

The solutions could be used to deal with burnout overall - they are more strategic and generalised. 

Most of the solutions suggested by @ActuallyAutisticAlien could be useful for other neurodiverse collectives and even neurotypicals. 

I will leave this insightful piece of written art for you. In the near future, I will write about my personal experience with burnout.

For now, however, my main aim is to lay out the foundations to make information on this multilayered concern. 

My next post will focus on something that @ActuallyAutisticAlien draws crucial reference to: masking.

Max de la Fontaine (2021)

Image: @ActuallyAutisticAlien