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Autism burnout

Charlotte1975

I’m 50 and about to get my diagnosis. It’s been indicated I most definitely am and there’s no doubt in my mind I’m autistic, I’ve suspected for years I am. 

Up until a few weeks ago, I was managing life and masking. As I am now in menopause, my life has significantly been impacted. I enter dysregulation due to sensory overload, when there are any changes to my routine, or when something stressful happens. It’s awful. My world has become very small and I’m trying headphones and different strategies and trying to work out what I can and can’t do. 
My official diagnosis isn’t due until the end of March, and meanwhile I feel lost.  My GP agrees it sounds like burnout and I’m unable to work. There’s not much advice on how to recover and of course I’m worried about the future. 
Any help or advice would be really helpful. 

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  •    Heart️Heart️ I really appreciate your share. I too am 50, diagnosed ADHD in October 25, and waiting on Autism referral. My autism has been screaming out to be free for years, I now realise. I think the ADHD persona felt more acceptable, if that makes sense. I had 2 periods of burn out in my 40’s, put down to depression and anxiety … and ‘life events’. The most recent one in 2024 year was for alcohol addiction. Oh the shame! but spending 4 weeks in hospital, helped me understand why this had become a coping mechanism for me. PS no-one at this point suggested to me I that I might be neurodivergent. Clearly I’m strong at masking!! What I’ve discovered so far is - headphones are brilliant, so are stimming fidgets…and quiet space from the ‘noise’. All those requirements, still feel weird to me. I also found in certain circumstances it’s really important to feel able to say/indciate ‘I am autistic, so you will need to adjust to me right now!’ - not literally you understand, although maybe Thinking I was in minor injuries a few weeks ago for an X-ray and I could feel my cognitive processing jamming up, with all the questions and instructions, and noisy, bright waiting rooms. It led to my first proper shutdown and mutism. Recovering well, but realising I need support. Hence, I joined the community today. One thing I have learnt is to plan ahead, reduce what you hope to do by half at least and create time in the day to decompress - if you don’t plan for that…your body will do it for you!! Just finished a fantastic book which helped me too - ‘The autistics guide to self-discovery’ by Sol Smith. Safe travels x

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  •    Heart️Heart️ I really appreciate your share. I too am 50, diagnosed ADHD in October 25, and waiting on Autism referral. My autism has been screaming out to be free for years, I now realise. I think the ADHD persona felt more acceptable, if that makes sense. I had 2 periods of burn out in my 40’s, put down to depression and anxiety … and ‘life events’. The most recent one in 2024 year was for alcohol addiction. Oh the shame! but spending 4 weeks in hospital, helped me understand why this had become a coping mechanism for me. PS no-one at this point suggested to me I that I might be neurodivergent. Clearly I’m strong at masking!! What I’ve discovered so far is - headphones are brilliant, so are stimming fidgets…and quiet space from the ‘noise’. All those requirements, still feel weird to me. I also found in certain circumstances it’s really important to feel able to say/indciate ‘I am autistic, so you will need to adjust to me right now!’ - not literally you understand, although maybe Thinking I was in minor injuries a few weeks ago for an X-ray and I could feel my cognitive processing jamming up, with all the questions and instructions, and noisy, bright waiting rooms. It led to my first proper shutdown and mutism. Recovering well, but realising I need support. Hence, I joined the community today. One thing I have learnt is to plan ahead, reduce what you hope to do by half at least and create time in the day to decompress - if you don’t plan for that…your body will do it for you!! Just finished a fantastic book which helped me too - ‘The autistics guide to self-discovery’ by Sol Smith. Safe travels x

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