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Burnt Out

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So much has been happening in my life lately that I've got so worked up and it's burnt me out. I can hardly function. I can't sleep. Hardly eating and getting crappy suicidal thoughts rushing through my rubbish brain. My mental health is a travesty as well. So many problems which the professionals said they'd help support me with so they put me on a waiting list which I've not heard anything back from. Feels like they forgot me. I read about a lot of people with asd who as they got older their lives somehow improved, they managed to have kids and get jobs. Those are big things for anyone let alone someone with asd. But me, I just keep sinking lower and lower. I'm burnt out. Tried so hard to keep strong but I'm out of strength and energy and basically just in bed all the time crying because I'm such a failure. Ahh it sucks. I'm sure I'm not alone feeling this way but it feels like it at times. 

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  • I can relate to this as I am also experiencing burnout at the moment. You are not a failure. It's good to rest and take time to recover.

    I sometimes like to think of the burnout as a 'protection mechanism' - ie viewing the burnout as a natural response to months or years of overworking, masking and struggling. This mindset helped me lessen some of the self-blaming.

    Are you able to take some time to fully rest? I was very lucky that my GP was extremely understanding and suggested I take sick leave. At first I felt worse, more deenergised than ever, crying for days on end, feeling like a failure and struggling a lot. However, after 6 weeks, though I am still struggling, I do feel more energised and I now know that what I need is time to rest, withdraw and just exist with as little outside pressure and stress as possible. Being "unproductive" (or what I view as that... because is it really unproductive if I am resting/ taking care of myself?) can be very good and healthy. I know that it might not always possible to take a full break from everything for practical reasons, but if you can it might be good. 

    So if you feel like lying in bed and resting, you are not a failure, you are probably just getting some much needed rest!

    What also helps me is some fresh air and being outside. Is there any activity you like to do? If you have the energy it might be nice to try that. Though for me when I was totally burnt-out I had very little capacity for anything and I didn't really do much... I then went through a phase of playing online board games (I recommend boardgame arena which has free boardgames), then sudokos and now as I am feeling a bit better I started learning how to play chess... 

    I can also relate to how frustrating it is to wait for help from doctors and professionals. In fact I almost ended up in hospital due to loosing so much weight as part of the burnout and I still didn't receive much help ... I really do hope that you manage to get some good support soon! I received so much good support and advice through this community. 

    I hope you feel better soon. You are not alone and you are not a failure. Sending lots of strength and energy!! 

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  • I can relate to this as I am also experiencing burnout at the moment. You are not a failure. It's good to rest and take time to recover.

    I sometimes like to think of the burnout as a 'protection mechanism' - ie viewing the burnout as a natural response to months or years of overworking, masking and struggling. This mindset helped me lessen some of the self-blaming.

    Are you able to take some time to fully rest? I was very lucky that my GP was extremely understanding and suggested I take sick leave. At first I felt worse, more deenergised than ever, crying for days on end, feeling like a failure and struggling a lot. However, after 6 weeks, though I am still struggling, I do feel more energised and I now know that what I need is time to rest, withdraw and just exist with as little outside pressure and stress as possible. Being "unproductive" (or what I view as that... because is it really unproductive if I am resting/ taking care of myself?) can be very good and healthy. I know that it might not always possible to take a full break from everything for practical reasons, but if you can it might be good. 

    So if you feel like lying in bed and resting, you are not a failure, you are probably just getting some much needed rest!

    What also helps me is some fresh air and being outside. Is there any activity you like to do? If you have the energy it might be nice to try that. Though for me when I was totally burnt-out I had very little capacity for anything and I didn't really do much... I then went through a phase of playing online board games (I recommend boardgame arena which has free boardgames), then sudokos and now as I am feeling a bit better I started learning how to play chess... 

    I can also relate to how frustrating it is to wait for help from doctors and professionals. In fact I almost ended up in hospital due to loosing so much weight as part of the burnout and I still didn't receive much help ... I really do hope that you manage to get some good support soon! I received so much good support and advice through this community. 

    I hope you feel better soon. You are not alone and you are not a failure. Sending lots of strength and energy!! 

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