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Monthly burnout

Lisa-Jayne

Hi all, great to have found this community.

I am trying to find anyone in a similar situation who can offer help/advice.

My son is 18 and has for the last 2 years experienced what we think is burnout, this happens every 4-6 weeks, he will become withdrawn and very anxious, stop interacting with friends and family and can’t attend college, this will last 7-10 days. He then wakes up one day and has the energy and mental space to start a fresh.

Having googled and googled it seems to burnout.

Sadly he was prescribed anti depressants to try and stabilise his moods,  which resulted in an overdose and involvement with the mental health crisis team.

I am looking for any help/advice/hope that this might stop or improve.

Many thanks

Lisa

Parents

  • Hi Lisa,

    My son is 21, ASD I've being going through this for the last 3 years now, definitely got worse through puberty.  He is on anti depressants and medication to help with agitation.  He was in college and had so much time off through bouts of going for 2 weeks 100% engaged when there then 3 weeks off with complete withdrawal doesn't engage with friends answer calls or texts just stops.  Then I say it's like a light switch flicks off then just flicks back on out of nowhere and starts doing things again.   I have taken him out of college as he was missing so much work.  I have started him in an informal educational course 4 days week which again he loves when there and gives his all but then just stops again.  We have tried just doing 3 days but nothing changes these burnouts still happen and I have no idea how to make them better.  If I try and encourage or even talk to him about going back as good for him he gets angry when low mood. I like you worry about his future and how he will manage.  I would like to give you better help but I'm still trying to find help as well.  

Reply

  • Hi Lisa,

    My son is 21, ASD I've being going through this for the last 3 years now, definitely got worse through puberty.  He is on anti depressants and medication to help with agitation.  He was in college and had so much time off through bouts of going for 2 weeks 100% engaged when there then 3 weeks off with complete withdrawal doesn't engage with friends answer calls or texts just stops.  Then I say it's like a light switch flicks off then just flicks back on out of nowhere and starts doing things again.   I have taken him out of college as he was missing so much work.  I have started him in an informal educational course 4 days week which again he loves when there and gives his all but then just stops again.  We have tried just doing 3 days but nothing changes these burnouts still happen and I have no idea how to make them better.  If I try and encourage or even talk to him about going back as good for him he gets angry when low mood. I like you worry about his future and how he will manage.  I would like to give you better help but I'm still trying to find help as well.  

Children
  • in reply to Lisa.1973

    Hi Lisa, it’s a terrible situation isn’t it, such a worry when all you want is for them to be happy but very difficult when you know the next burnout is just around the corner.

    The same for us, we withdrew him from school for 2 months but the episodes still happened.

    Everything you mention is the same for my son, even the mental health team couldn’t believe how different he was once he’d come out of the other end.

    I do wonder if it’s also linked to hormones, I’m certainly praying it is and that in time they will either grow out of it or learn to manage and push through.

    I’m not sure about you but I’ve found there is absolutely no help available for these young adults, unless it hits crisis point which is such a shame.

    I really appreciate your comment, just knowing there are other parents going through something similar gives me a little hope there might be an answer out there.

    From one worried mum to another Two hearts