Autistic Burnout is a reality for autistic people- children and adults. It is a physical, emotional and psychological state mainly characterised by chronic exhaustion, sensory overload, loss of executive function skills, heightened anxiety, low mood and often suicidal thoughts (there are many other symptoms that people experience too).  

Autistic burnout is caused by many things but mainly caused by being in:

 1. Environments that lead to masking their differences as autistic people (masking differences to fit in to a world that expects autistic people to be more neurotypical is exhausting and means their needs are not met)

 2. Environments that lead to sensory overload (autistic people can end up significantly traumatised by being in environments that cause sensory distress).

 3. High demand environments that have a lot of expectations ( this is true for all autistic people but especially those who are PDA)

All of this leads autistic children, young people and adults suffering, often in silence because of masking. Environments that are not adjusted so that autistic people’s needs are met will cause harm. Dr Luke Beardon from Sheffield University says “Autism + environment =outcome” and how true this is. In unadjusted, unsuitable environments that don’t consider the needs of autistic people, autistic people can suffer and experience trauma; and in turn this affects our mental health and physical wellbeing.

Many school environments, especially mainstream, are such demanding environments for autistic children and young people, that they often experience burnout.  This is happening particularly to older Primary and Secondary school children. These autistic children are not ‘unwilling’ to attend school, they’re not ‘refusing’ to attend- they can’t attend; they’re exhausted and have no resources left. Their parents are not neglecting their children’s educational needs, they are putting their child’s wellbeing first.

Autistic burnout is not recognised by many professionals working with autistic children and adults, and unless this changes, then more autistic people will suffer. Autistic burnout is NOT clinical depression or EUPD and it doesn’t respond to most talk therapies or medication. The autistic individual needs to rest, regulate, recouperate and recover, spending time with their interests in a low demand, low expectations environment. It takes months often to get into a place of recovery from autistic burnout. 

The symptoms of autistic burnout includes exhaustion, sensory overload, increased anxiety, increased meltdowns, shutdowns, loss of executive function skills, not being able to do the most basic self care such as eating , showering, and may stop communicating. They may self harm and many can experience intrusive thoughts, suicidal thoughts and hallucinations too.
An autistic young person or adult experiencing a severe burnout crisis may even end up in psychiatric care due to suicide attempts. The statistics around suicide for autistic people are shocking and for many it was as a result of burnout.

Local authorities, schools, CAMHs, mental health teams and all professionals engaging with autistic children, young people and adults also must address their lack of understanding and acceptance of autistic burnout, especially in the light of the expectations upon communities to support autistic people so they do not reach crisis. Autistic burnout IS crisis and an autistic child, young person or adult (and families) experiencing this needs to be understood and given the right help and support.