From struggling to maintain daily routines to experiencing problems managing thoughts, feelings and actions, an autistic person’s day-to-day life can become impacted when they find themselves experiencing burnout.
Despite more than one in 100 people being on the autism spectrum, autistic people can find it difficult to get the necessary support they need.
Given plans for those experiencing milder mental health issues, such as chronic stress, to be expected to work rather than receive additional help, autistic people could be forced into situations which might worsen their stressors and put them at greater risk of burnout.
With a lack of support and an increasing expectation to be at work, how can you support someone who might be experiencing autistic burnout?
What does autistic burnout look like?
“Many autistic people experiencing burnout indicate that their health, particularly their mental wellbeing suffers excessively. Depression and anxiety are both common symptoms among autistic people with burnout,” shares Ana Silvestri, senior psychologist at caba, the occupational charity for ICAEW chartered accountants.
Other early warning signs of autistic burnout include:
- Behavioural changes such as struggling with self-regulation
- Increased sensory sensitivity
- Changes to sleep patterns
- An increased need for stimming, such as flapping hands, biting nails or rocking,
Experiencing autistic burnout
Unlike burnout in neurotypical people, which often stems from competing stressors such as workplace pressure and relationship issues, autistic burnout arises from the stresses that present from having to live in a neurotypical society.
Feeling like you have to mask autistic traits, dealing with sensory triggers such as a noisy office environment and a lack of understanding from neurotypical people can all be common causes of autistic burnout.
Without the necessary adjustments, this can be difficult to handle and make autistic people more susceptible to burnout.
“Being autistic means you’re more prone to burnout compared to neurotypical individuals. I’ve since been signed off on sick leave and have decided to use this time to apply for jobs outside of the practice – a change of environment feels like the only way I’ll ever be able to get a break,” revealed Jane Smith* who shared her experience of autistic burnout throughout her working life as an accountant.
What can you do to support someone experiencing autistic burnout?
When autistic people experience burnout, it may be difficult for them to access support by themselves.
“In most scenarios, there is a lack of resources in disability services or a lack of understanding from others. It’s important to not only offer support but also advocate for them. Having an awareness of the stigma and discrimination that is attributed to those with autism is the key to providing good support and managing burnout,” says Ana.
Here are five expert tips to help someone with autistic burnout:
- Educate yourself
Learn about autistic masking and try to adapt the way you interact so the person with autism does not have to suppress their autistic traits.
“It can be helpful to make surroundings as autistic-friendly as possible and ensure that the responsibility doesn’t fall down to the individual,” notes Ana.
- Highlight the person’s strengths
Ana recommends focussing on an autistic person’s strengths and positive qualities that they excel in and reassuring them about how they are important both to their life and the lives of others around them. By pointing out the things they enjoy, you can help them reconnect with themselves positively.
- Remove them from stressful situations
Ana says that “it’s important to try and understand an autistic person’s triggers to help them in removing themselves from stressful situations. Being aware of their safe spaces beforehand and helping them set clear boundaries in times when they feel overwhelmed is a great way to manage stress and advocate for them.”
- Validate their feelings
“Accept their experience and validate their feelings and needs as this allows them to feel acknowledged. Actively listen and give them your full attention without interrupting or attempting to provide solutions. The best way to validate their emotions is by acknowledging them as valid in any given situation,” explains Ana.
- Adapt yourself to autistic specific needs
One way to do this is to adjust to an autistic person’s preferred way of communication. This involves respecting their communication preferences, whether they feel more comfortable with verbal, written, or even visual communication. Ana adds that “by creating a supportive environment, you can help an individual recognise and celebrate their strengths.”
To help those experiencing symptoms of autistic burnout, it’s essential to offer genuine support. Advocating for and paving the way for autistic people to back themselves is important to ensure that they receive the support that they deserve to overcome burnout.