Well, this is a subject that fills me with both fascination and fear. Fascination because it seems to me that this is quite a broad subject that affects everyone, irrespective of neurology, to a degree. Fear because I also think that the consequences for autistic people can be much more severe, more often.
Anyway, I came across this Youtube channel and an associated book (Burnout, Solve your stress cycle, written before the author realised that she's autistic and it got me wondering (yes, even more than previously!):
Are there various definitions of burnout? Some accounts make it seem more like an episodic stress response, others more like a severe or chronic condition that is perhaps linked to other quite serious issues (lack of self care, depression, suicidality, withdrawal etc). Would the autistic profile of burnout tend more to the latter, I wonder? Or not? Many of the Youtube videos on burnout given by autistic people also seem to be describing something episodic, if not mild (leastways by comparison to what goes on within my family).
There is also my ongoing confusion between the definitions of autistic burnout and autistic catatonia (which I've mentioned before https://community.autism.org.uk/f/mental-health-and-wellbeing/20553/useful-resources-webinars-etc-on-burnout-extreme-withdrawal-and-hygiene-issues-in-adults/198538#198538)
Is burnout distinct and separate from catatonia, or is there a grey area, with severe burnout merging into catatonia. And when might qualified professionals be needed (in which case, which ones and are they available here in England)?
I'm sort of thinking about buying the book, but then again hesitating because it might turn out to be just another book on managing stress - again, big overlap but I need something geared more towards the severe end of the scale and with ideas on what families can do, rather than the person themsleves (cos they're in no condition to).
Has anyone read the book or used these videos from what's actually called the "autistic burnout" channel? (NB Things often feel really desperate here, as you can tell from my other posts, so I'm more than eager to learn)
www.youtube.com/watch
