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Autism masking and regression after mental health breakdowns

Terryaki

Hello fellow forum users,

This is my first post on the forum and I am in need of some assistance. I am diagnosed autistic but also have a diagnosis of CPTSD and have quite severe mental rumination. I have had a few severe mental breakdowns and recently had two within a 4 month period that have left me taking time off work and being unable to look after myself. 

my partner made a comment that my mannerism had changed and that I have become more withdrawn and in a sense lost the ability to socialise. I have noticed this too to an extent but I wondered whether this is a known phenomenon in people with autism who go through mental breakdowns. It almost feels like I cannot mask at all.

thank you for all your information and assistance in advance 

Parents

  • I also have CPTSD with autism and I am currently healing from very severe traumas that compounded on top of one another. My ability to function at one point was completely decimated so I can relate to your experiences. At the peak of my burnout/breakdown everything just stopped and I became unable to look after myself at all. 

    Reading about other people's experiences, it does seem a common experience for autistics with CPTSD to end up with regression of some kind, when we are overwhelmed by life circumstances. I've been lucky to have some support throughout my recovery and have now been able to regain some function back. 

    From a personal perspective, the breakdowns were so severe that they forced me to re-examine every aspect of my life and start to make changes.

    I hope things can improve for you soon. Regression and burnout are very difficult states to be in. I wish you well. 

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  • I also have CPTSD with autism and I am currently healing from very severe traumas that compounded on top of one another. My ability to function at one point was completely decimated so I can relate to your experiences. At the peak of my burnout/breakdown everything just stopped and I became unable to look after myself at all. 

    Reading about other people's experiences, it does seem a common experience for autistics with CPTSD to end up with regression of some kind, when we are overwhelmed by life circumstances. I've been lucky to have some support throughout my recovery and have now been able to regain some function back. 

    From a personal perspective, the breakdowns were so severe that they forced me to re-examine every aspect of my life and start to make changes.

    I hope things can improve for you soon. Regression and burnout are very difficult states to be in. I wish you well. 

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