Autistic Burnout 101 - Recognizing the Signs, Triggers, and Impact

Hi! I'm Orion Kelly and I'm Autistic. On this video I explore the topic of #autistic burnout and share what it feels like for me as an #actuallyautistic person. I discuss my experiences, the causes and triggers, and how I recover from and try to avoid it. #AutisticBurnout #orionkelly #autism #whatautismfeelslike #asd #autismsigns

⏱ Index:
00:00 - Autistic burnout
02:32 - What does Autistic burnout feel like
17:41 - What causes Autistic burnout
27:58 - How to recover from Autistic burnout

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ABOUT ORION:
Orion Kelly is an #ActuallyAutistic vlogger (YouTuber), podcaster, radio host, actor, keynote speaker and Autistic advocate based in Australia. Orion is all about helping you increase your understanding, acceptance and appreciation of Autistic people.

#AutisticVoices #ActuallyAutistic #Autistic #Autism #OrionKelly #ThatAutisticGuy #ASD

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⛔️*Disclaimer: The videos contained on this channel are for general education and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute professional advice. For professional advice and training seek assistance from a qualified provider. All views are my own and do not represent those of my employers or sponsors. Some images used are stock images.*⛔️

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[gonnfishy]

“Autistic regression” is one of the hardest things to go through during burnout

[WPVanHeerden]

Very well said, it explains a lot. I was often bullied for "trying to sound clever" whereas all I wanted was to make myself understood. Generally, people do not believe that we have a different experience of the same thing.

[bluebus]

Can you be so exhausted that you don't even have the energy for your interests? I feel completely off everyday mentalt emotionally physically. I'm 32 and waiting for to get diagnosed autism. I have adhd diagnosed already. I have been staying home for over a month now doing nothing but rest and short walks but I'm still exhausted and having struggle doing my own dinner as well. I have been depressed before but this is not that.

[robertjmccabe]

I had an insanely long burnout this year after I was finally diagnosed with ASD. It was beyond overwhelming going back through all my painful memories and framing them with autism. My burnout manifested as a loss of all interests. All I wanted to do was sleep and go for walks. About a month ago, I finally healed from this burnout and am interested in things again.

[marglarsen]

I chuckled when you said "Autistic Community" because we don't do "community" very much. But I like the thought that we ARE a community.

[nemea]

I feel like I have been in burnout for years. I have only just figured out at age 60 that I am autistic as well as ADHD. The enormity of all of this has not yet sunk in. I recognize myself and many of my best friends in your description of stimming. Thanks for this.

[buttercxpdraws]

I had not heard the explanation of stimming as how it can assist us in listening and processing information and that really resonates with me. Autism researchers need to listen to the perspectives of autistic adults and their lived experiences more to really grasp autistic behaviour. I know what my stimming is and why that is an indicator of being autistic, but I’ve never been told that it is another way of listening, which is quite frankly just as valid as making eye contact to listen, and I think that is a really great explanation of why we stim. Why would anyone try to stop a child from stimming which is not only harmless but helpful when it is just their way of being?

[Rubiastraify]

Your videos are doing a great service, because you're so articulate, you're like a "translator" for how the world appears to autistic people, and how autistic people manage the world around them and interactions.

[allthingsbethie]

During burnout, talking is physically painful. I lose words. I don't wanna talk. Listening to people talk hurts. I just want silence.

[anonomus]

Unfortunately my AuDHD burnout was bad enough to push me into a psychotic break. It can be very difficult to recover from burnout as a whole, I'm glad you were able to get through this and I think it's important to have videos like this so that people can begin to understand how to recognize burnout within themselves.

[robynfromcanada]

I feel so validated listening to you explaining what I could never find words to explain. I work and I am married and I manage okay, but society always expects more. Instead of believing society, I know I am enough as I am. 💜😁

[nkleeman]

Pavlov is true, I have spent the last 10 years of life conditioned by a narcissist to think i had a bad memory. I have been amazing recently about how good my memory is, but then I realized I was probably correct the whole time when I said I told her things or did this, but she was manipulating me to think i didnt to get what she wanted. Thank you thank you, this has helped me so much.

[jazzdirt]

My psychologist and me disagree... He thinks it PTSD (which there also are reasons why he might think that), I thought it was depression... But we were both wrong.. It definitely is Autistic Burnout... You say it's a personal experience, but everything you said fell right into place... The masking, the falling onto rejection if you don't. The forgetting how to take of the mask (I haven't been me for 35-ish years)... The incredible physical exhaustion (which I usually just push through, because in my mind, everybody else can do it: Be on time, function, etc, so I should too, but that also kinda keeps me in the spiral), the not being able to find words, not being able to find the words to express yourself, and at some point not even caring anymore... And just shut down, and don't communicate anymore...

[JustSayRance]

I had to completely go back to the basics last year. Getting out of bed early, going for a walk, eating, delving a tiny bit into my hobbies and going to bed early was all I could manage for months.

I think an autistic burnout was the cause, with GAD as an amplifier and a severe case of depression as a result

[katw]

Hi Orion, the medical community would benefit greatly through greater acceptance of individual perceptions of Autistics such as You and Neurodivergent Rebel. Keep making these videos, sharing Your truth and loving this life✌️🧡🙏🕉🇨🇦

[caddydaddy]

The computer rebooting analogy really hits home with how I feel everyday after work. I need a little time to transition and regroup or I'll be more distracted, forgetful or irritable as I can be easily overwhelmed, drained, and not sharp feeling. Before I recently realized my ASD/ADHD/PDA makeup I just chalked it up to just being a bit fried from work, but now it makes more sense as to my ND playing a bigger part in the cause of how I'm feeling and the reasoning behind it. Better understanding of how shutdowns work and how to recover will help me a lot with these situations as I'll have a better chance of recharging my batteries (or draining them less) before my computer goes into power saving mode and reboots.

[acunnington]

My teenage son was diagnosed last year, I wish I had this knowledge earlier.
A massive eye opener to understand how he feels from time to to time.
The way you described the burnout was exactly what he went thru.
Unfortunately as parents that didn't know at that point couldn't understand and thought it was just teenage depression and school work overload.
So glad I stumbled across this video.. I has certainly helped me understand

[amandamandamands]

So much of this is relatable, I have sent the link to my psychologist so that she can get a better understanding of what happens for burnout. Newly diagnosed and explains why I would have what looked like depressive episodes that medication didn't make a difference for.

[carolshepherd]

This is excellent. Orion explains and communicates very well the burnout stage. I wish I'd known about this years ago. I was diagnosed at age 79 which was a big relief to know why I was so "odd.". I have been stemming since a small child and still do at 79. I twizzle my hair which is comforting. Anyway good video Orion!! ❤️😍🌷😇🤗🌹

[elizabethwales]

Loving your videos Orion. I'm a 60 year old woman and have never been diagnosed, but the more I research ASD, the more I am convinced that I am autistic. I resonate with SO much of what you say, and my whole life has been a massive struggle. Everything is starting to make sense to me. Thanks for your work 👍