Autistic Burnout at Work

Hi, thank you for your advice and reply’s, my case meeting is this coming Friday. 

I have had blood tests and all is fine with them, I also have epilepsy which is partially controlled with medication and take Pregabulin for anxiety and sleep, it does not work for the anxiety, it was working for the sleep.

i find interpersonal relationships hard at work and I have shut myself off from everyone and can’t mask my Autistic symptoms anymore.

my body is just shutting down and everything takes a monumental amount of energy and concentration including tying my shoes and executive functioning. 

Ive was looking to Mental Health Services for answers but have been told that won’t be productive as Autism isn’t a mental health condition.

Hello, I don’t know what might appen at your meeting but I do get the whole burnout issue. For me the only thing that works at the stage you’re at is rest. Ie taking some time off. Can you do that? If I catch it early enough a couple of days of doing little more than sleeping, eating sorts it, but has been known to take much much longer.

as extraneous says anxiety is a mental health condition and burnout is also a medical issue. I think anyone can get it, it’s just that when we get it all our autistic traits show up because we haven’t got the energy to mask any more which makes it look different. Also we get it much easier because of the effort everything takes. So, you should be able to get help for these things from your GP, mental health services. Should be able to.....

good luck with everything

The only thing Mental Health Services have offered is an online CBT course, I have had CBT many times and it does not work, unfortunately these therapies are not designed with Autistics in mind and there is no support in my area for Adults on the Autistic Spectrum. A fellow Autistic has advised me to stop looking to mental health support as that's not what I need. They said that perhaps structured routines will aid my recovery and not psychotherapy which actually has done more harm than good in the past, I have asked for an assessment from Social Services for the possibility of an Outreach Worker.

The only thing Mental Health Services have offered is an online CBT course, I have had CBT many times and it does not work, unfortunately these therapies are not designed with Autistics in mind and there is no support in my area for Adults on the Autistic Spectrum. A fellow Autistic has advised me to stop looking to mental health support as that's not what I need. They said that perhaps structured routines will aid my recovery and not psychotherapy which actually has done more harm than good in the past, I have asked for an assessment from Social Services for the possibility of an Outreach Worker.

I've shared your frustrations with CBT in the past but must say in the hands of an autism specialist am seeing much better results this time round.