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Never ending burnout

Spectora

Hello. I have ASD, and I also suffer with pretty intense anxiety and PTSD. Lately I have been suffering what I’m pretty sure is autistic burnout and fatigue, something that’s left me bedridden on some days. I get out of bed, do something, not even something major and I feel like I just run 5k! I end up feeling dizzy and like I haven’t slept in days.

I have seen the GP about these, bloods etc showed nothing of concern. Her advice is to rest when I need to and do little things when I can. But it feels like such a waste of life, I’m here, functioning, existing… but not really living. It’s a strange situation and one I have never experienced before. Reading through NAS’s advice & guidance pages I think it is burnout, sounds similar anyway and I’m aware for some as we get older – I’m 27 now – our symptoms of anxiety and the way autism can affect life can become increasingly more difficult to cope with.
The advice & guidance has been helpful but I thought I would ask here too in case anyone has been through this or is currently experiencing it and might have any advice on what I can do to help myself.

Any advice is welcomed and will be helpful. This burnout feels never ending and is affecting my life in so many negative ways.

TIA x.

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  • Hi Spectora, I don't know that I have any advice really but I just wanted to add too that I can relate a lot to the burnout. I'm also 27, and formally diagnosed with ASD last year - I think I've been in perpetual burnout since I was about 16. It can be really difficult to struggle with things you used to be able to do and regression has definitely at times made me feel pretty useless and ashamed.

    I think the most helpful thing I've managed to do for myself is set my expectations low. I know it's difficult to truly feel a sense of achievement for managing basic things (and there's a lot of internalised shame baked in there), but practising lowering the bar for myself has helped over time. Now, it's easier to congratulate myself if I remember to eat, or take a shower. Doing this has also made it easier for myself to acknowledge how much more difficult it is for me to do basic tasks that other people do without effort. Acknowledging the struggle has helped decrease the negative self-talk spiral and has helped me advocate for myself. That being said, it doesn't solve everything and I still struggle a lot with accepting that my struggles are real and not a moral failing! But, hopefully over time, it will improve little by little and you'll gain a better understanding of your own capacity / energy levels.  

    I also use a self-care app called Finch - you create daily to do lists and every time you tick something off, you fuel your own little bird pet to go off on adventures! It's very wholesome and has helped encourage me at times to manage basic needs like drinking water. You can keep your to do lists here as simple or complicated as you like, and it's free! If you like games and / or to do lists, this could be helpful. 

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  • Hi Spectora, I don't know that I have any advice really but I just wanted to add too that I can relate a lot to the burnout. I'm also 27, and formally diagnosed with ASD last year - I think I've been in perpetual burnout since I was about 16. It can be really difficult to struggle with things you used to be able to do and regression has definitely at times made me feel pretty useless and ashamed.

    I think the most helpful thing I've managed to do for myself is set my expectations low. I know it's difficult to truly feel a sense of achievement for managing basic things (and there's a lot of internalised shame baked in there), but practising lowering the bar for myself has helped over time. Now, it's easier to congratulate myself if I remember to eat, or take a shower. Doing this has also made it easier for myself to acknowledge how much more difficult it is for me to do basic tasks that other people do without effort. Acknowledging the struggle has helped decrease the negative self-talk spiral and has helped me advocate for myself. That being said, it doesn't solve everything and I still struggle a lot with accepting that my struggles are real and not a moral failing! But, hopefully over time, it will improve little by little and you'll gain a better understanding of your own capacity / energy levels.  

    I also use a self-care app called Finch - you create daily to do lists and every time you tick something off, you fuel your own little bird pet to go off on adventures! It's very wholesome and has helped encourage me at times to manage basic needs like drinking water. You can keep your to do lists here as simple or complicated as you like, and it's free! If you like games and / or to do lists, this could be helpful. 

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