Autistic Burnout

Autistic burnout is a state of profound exhaustion that occurs when cumulative demands exceed an autistic person's resources. Distinctive features: loss of skills that were previously present (regression), increased sensory sensitivity, exhaustion that doesn't improve with ordinary rest, an inability to do things that used to be manageable, social withdrawal, and an increase in meltdowns and shutdowns.

Unlike work-related burnout, autistic burnout can be caused by extensive masking, chronic sensory overload, life transitions, accumulated social demands, or pressure to behave in neurotypical ways. It can last months or years.

Autistic burnout is often mistaken for depression — and while the two can coexist, treatment differs. Autistic burnout responds to reduced demands, accommodations that lower masking, and recovery time — not necessarily to antidepressants.