Autistic burnout

Understood.- 

we also get conditioned how to think and act - I personally found/find the tricky thing to overcoming burnout is breaking this conditioning - sorry to be so lacking in transparency

Best wishes

Phased

I think that's all a bit beyond me, and I'm not conditioning at the moment because hard training drains me too much. It's going to be some time before I have enough energy to get back to training how I used to, if that ever happens. I think I need to change everything in order to move forward and recover. 

Thank you for your insights

P

I am here if you want to talk Paul 

Thank you for replying Paul50 

Time to adapt, yes there are scientific measurements of this - maybe worth the research if looking for a schedule for the journey of recovery - however remembering that everyone is an individual and the number of factors to consider is very wide and very complex.

eg how long to recover from events and stressors, adaptation times etc and how the individual reacts/responds

as for "time", physicists have been able to use machines to "chop" time down to one billionth of a billionth of a second - and weirdly, at a quantum level, time doesn't exist apparently!  - from this I suggest the way to find time is looking for it "in the spaces in between" if that makes sense?  maybe I digress from the fitness pro angle there but i hope you get what I mean.

To return to the fitness approach - maybe consider "conditioning"?

personally I have come to realise just how much my stress responses are "conditioned" too.

All the best!

Phased

Thank you. From one fitness pro to another, I appreciate your view on this. As you say it's going to take time but I'll try to give myself time to adapt.

I love analogies. Thank you for taking the time to reply.

Burnout, to me, can seem like walking along a road after a heavy rain shower. 

You realise the road surface has become wet, so you take it steady as you walk along as best your energy permits.

You spot a potential puddle and walk / engage a little more cautiously to avoid getting splashed by muddy water.  That strategy seems to work for a few iterations.

Wallop.

You misjudged that particular puddle ...which actually turned out to be a wretched pot-hole ...with muddy water now up to your ankle. 

You had not anticipated wet shoes and socks for your troubles of just trying to walk along that wet road.

You are exhausted by the set-back and yet still persistent.

If you carry on walking - long enough - that warmth of repeated endeavour will gently begin to, at least, to dry out your socks (shoe drying might have to wait until you return home to rest properly).

Eventually, one determined step in front of the other - your navigation walking along the rain-sodden Burnout Road ensures you reach your objective.

Oddly, the full details of what it actually took to get you from "A" to "B" along Burnout Road are not always retained.

Life continues to wend its way and weave's its stories beyond burnout.

What you can recall; is the recognition that; return from burnout can be achieved - should you be challenged to navigate through it again someday.

Albeit, the duration and intensity of each burnout episode may vary considerably across life decades and different circumstance.

I came up with this strategy Paul50 it's working for me:

"To "survive burnout phoenix-style" means to recover and rise from it by first prioritizing rest and self-care, then setting realistic expectations and boundaries, seeking support from others, and finally reflecting on and reassessing your goals to rebuild a more balanced life that aligns with your values. This process takes time and involves self-reflection, reconnecting with passions, and celebrating small wins to find renewed joy and meaning."

I have a background in exercise health myself so I'd like also to share this as personal strategies out of filial respect:

the primary principle may be to consider (as the song puts it) "it ain't what you do it's the way that you do it"

eccentric exercise (ie lowering the burden down safely and smoothly) is mechanically harder than lifting it up - 

if you hold the golgi tendon organ on a prolonged load eventually it will relax and the biomechanics will resolve the equation to a stronger solution with other areas taking the load ...

finding spinal reflex/autonomic means to achieve the physical result is well worth the investment in time and mental effort - it means one may do more by doing less

the skill to physical capability is primarily one of balance and leverage 

when considering exercise don't forget that one is standing under 60 miles of air that weighs 14 1/2 pounds per square inch - don't forget to breathe - and the first thing before lifting something else is maintaining poise and balance in one's own posture - of which breathing is the first principle.

one tends to think as exercise as lifting weights, going for a run etc - maybe consider that what one is doing when one is not doing something is physically still utilising muscles and joints etc

how one holds oneself is a biopsychosocial expression of self - internal balance is key - 

biochemistry has many insights into stress behaviour and responses in exercise

fitness?  If the key fits the lock then very little effort is required to turn it.

Fitness is about using less effort to achieve more effect.  Doing more to achieve more - eventually one burns out..  

and this expands into other aspects of life - in my experience

Personally I throw that into the burn-out survival plan I first shared.

Best wishes

Phased

Thank you Anna. I've made the change.

Thank you Peacock. I appreciate all the advice, although I won't be taking medication unless I absolutely have to. I can manage my highs and lows fairly well with rest, self care and getting out in nature, so anti-depressants would be a last resort.

I don't think I have the spoons to make a list. Brain fog and cognitive overwhelm is preventing anything like that for now.

It's a tiring weekend so hopefully it'll be an ok week and I'll be able to find some recovery time. 

All the best and thanks again.

Hi Paul50 , I’m sorry you‘re in burnout. I hope you can get some reassuring responses from the community and you feel better soon.

In terms of your username change, there are instructions on how to do it in our Online Community Instructions page. I couldn’t paste the link here, but you can access it by clicking on More to the right of the Online Community Rules you see at the top left of any page in the forum. I hope this helps. (+) National Autistic Society - Our Community  

Best wishes,

Anna Mod

Hi  l am sorry that your in burnout l am also in this place write now so maybe we can help each other.

I am using a book from Kindle on understand adult ADHD and autism. It's every helpful and shows you way you burnout and out to rest , and what to do.

But basically it's making a list of everything you need to do 

Then tick of what you can do right now and leave the biggest objects for when you're feeling better.

But the main thing would be food, medication, and if you didn't feel like cooking it's ok to have sandwiches or snacks and ready meals, until you get back on track again. Self-care.

Be kind to yourself hope you get better soon 

I draw the blinds put a no caller sticker on the front door and hibinate until l feel better again.