Academic Paper on Autistic Burnout

Yes, Dora Raymaker is doing some good work in this area.  Likewise Kieran Rose, Amy Pearson and, for autistic children and teens, Jodie Smitten.  

I can find more in the way of descriptions of burnout than help though.  I suppose it's a highly individual matter as to what will support someone, but I'm really stuck when it comes to helping the young adults in my own household.  And I find the apparent overlap between the definitions of burnout and autistic catatonia quite confusing too.   

Jenny Butterfly said:

Likewise Kieran Rose, Amy Pearson and, for autistic children and teens, Jodie Smitten.  

These autistic people are really great advocates/researchers who provide great insight for both other autistic people and non autistic parents. Have you watched Aucademy’s videos on burnout with Jodie Smitten and also Kieran Rose’s appearances covering masking? Very informative and also easily understandable.

Jenny Butterfly said:

I can find more in the way of descriptions of burnout than help though.  I suppose it's a highly individual matter as to what will support someone, but I'm really stuck when it comes to helping the young adults in my own household. 

This must be really difficult to manage as a family. I hope you find it reassuring to know that  your young adults are not alone, there are many another young autistic people going through similar experiences.

I think you are right though the experience of autistic burnout is so personal that it is difficult to recommend any specific help. I would generally recommend some autistic self care with a low arousal/low expectation environment. Unmasking in a safe space is also a really important part of autistic self care as burnout can be caused by excessive masking. Like I said before Jodie Smitten’s videos are really good. These videos might be useful:

https://youtu.be/ZjaeP-Gf9uk

https://youtu.be/Tu07ouTUDBQ

Jenny Butterfly said:

And I find the apparent overlap between the definitions of burnout and autistic catatonia quite confusing too.  

Yes so do I, I think they can look quite similar. Catatonia might a physical response to burnout so that you aren’t actually able to adhere to anymore expectations. I think catatonia might also be similar to autistic shutdown because the stupor may be a freeze response.  I want to do more research on this topic.

These articles might be interesting and hopefully provide some clarification about catatonia:

https://neuroclastic.com/is-it-selective-mutism-or-chronic-catatonia/

https://neuroclastic.com/chronic-catatonia-order-yourself-into-action/

I hope my response is helpful and you are able to access the support you need for your young adults.

Many thanks.  I've watched quite a few articles and videos on the subject and even went to see Kieran Rose, given that he lives just a couple of miles from me.  I'll have look through these though as something might leap out this time around.

I'm basically looking for advice and guidance from the third person perspective rather than first person accounts, and for adults rather than children.  We really need to know how to support someone in deep, chronic burnout (or catatonia, or shutdown) which last for years.  Yes, years.  

During my early teenage years I lost my dad to this for around 10 years.  A big gap in our lives that, although he eventually recovered to a degree, we never got back.  And now I'm devastated to find our sons going through similar.

So yes, we are very person-centred, low-no demand and empathic in our approach.  And we try to keep the environment here calm and low arousal.  But still the situation continues and I wouldn't know where to seek any further support.  Kieran was very generous with his time but, of course, is a dad to younger children and, although he could give some general guidance, he really didn't know what our chances of a recovery were.  It's probably not knowable.  And I messaged Jodie in some detail but got no response, possibly because my query was about young, autonomous adults rather than under 18s in my care.  

I feel devastated.  Perhaps, knowing what I now know, I shouldn't have become a parent.  My view was optimistic and hopeful and I thought more about future graduations and grandchildren than possible disability and distress.  Unrealistic, perhaps, but watching others close to me going through these positive life experiences, I'm finding it hard not to feel devastated, both for my sons and for myself.  Too many doors are seemingly closed to us, and for reasons I don't fully understand.  :(

Many thanks.  I've watched quite a few articles and videos on the subject and even went to see Kieran Rose, given that he lives just a couple of miles from me.  I'll have look through these though as something might leap out this time around.

I'm basically looking for advice and guidance from the third person perspective rather than first person accounts, and for adults rather than children.  We really need to know how to support someone in deep, chronic burnout (or catatonia, or shutdown) which last for years.  Yes, years.  

During my early teenage years I lost my dad to this for around 10 years.  A big gap in our lives that, although he eventually recovered to a degree, we never got back.  And now I'm devastated to find our sons going through similar.

So yes, we are very person-centred, low-no demand and empathic in our approach.  And we try to keep the environment here calm and low arousal.  But still the situation continues and I wouldn't know where to seek any further support.  Kieran was very generous with his time but, of course, is a dad to younger children and, although he could give some general guidance, he really didn't know what our chances of a recovery were.  It's probably not knowable.  And I messaged Jodie in some detail but got no response, possibly because my query was about young, autonomous adults rather than under 18s in my care.  

I feel devastated.  Perhaps, knowing what I now know, I shouldn't have become a parent.  My view was optimistic and hopeful and I thought more about future graduations and grandchildren than possible disability and distress.  Unrealistic, perhaps, but watching others close to me going through these positive life experiences, I'm finding it hard not to feel devastated, both for my sons and for myself.  Too many doors are seemingly closed to us, and for reasons I don't fully understand.  :(