How to avoid autistic burnout (Is it even possible?!)

We've all asked the question of how to avoid autistic burnout. Is it even possible? Is it just part of the autistic experience? or can it be managed in a better way?

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// WELCOME TO ASPERGERS FROM THE INSIDE!!

My name is Paul and I discovered I have Aspergers at age 30.

Yes, I know, I don't look autistic. That's exactly why I started this blog, because if I didn't show you, you would never know.

As the name suggests, this channel is devoted to giving you insight into the world of Aspergers.
This blog started off being just my story, but I've learned SO MUCH about my own condition
from meeting others on the Autism Spectrum that now I make sure to feature their stories as well.

I've come a long way in my own personal journey.
Now I'm sharing what I've found so you don't have to learn it the hard way too.

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// WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS BLOG

You can expect me to get to the point with concise useful information.
I focus on what is most important and don't shy away from difficult topics.

The best way to learn about Autism is to see it in real life ( i.e. via the stories of many, many people on the spectrum).

In this channel I endeavour to show you what Autism and Aspergers look like in real people and to also give you some insight as to what's happening on the inside.
I upload a new video every weekend with some bonus content thrown in mid-week too.
There's always new stuff coming through so be sure to check back and see what you've missed. (Is this where I'm supposed to tell you to hit that subscribe button?)

Topics Include:
- What is Aspergers/Autism?
- Aspie Tips, coping strategies, and advice on common issues
- Learning Emotional Intelligence (this is my special interest!)
- Autism in real life: stories from special guests

Everything I do is and endeavour to go deeper and take you 'behind the scenes' to understand what may, at first glance, seem 'odd'.
oh, and I love busting stereotypes and turning preconceptions upsidedown :)

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// ABOUT ME

I discovered I have aspergers at the age of thrity.
It has been my life's mission to understand these funny creatures we call humans.
My special interest is a combination of emotional intelligence, psychology, neuroscience, thinking styles, behaviour, and motivation. (I.e. what makes people tick)
My background is in engineering and I see the world in systems to be analysed.
My passion is for taking the incredibly complex, deciphering the pattern, and explaining it very simply.
My philosophy is that blogging is an adventure best shared.

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// EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE TRAINING

I also run autism friendly online emotional intelligence training. So if you like my direct, systematic style, and would like to improve your own emotional intelligence skills, check it out here:

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// CONTACT

Blogging is an adventure best shared which means I'd love to hear from you!
Feel free to leave me a comment or send me and email at any time and I'll do my best to respond promptly.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy this channel!
I look forward to hearing from you!

Peace,

~Paul

[jessstuart]

Can't afford to burnout. Can't afford to take time off. Lord, give me the strength to persevere.

[Dancestar]

I’m the same unfortunately neurotypicals don’t understand this even those who are close to us. We are accused of being selfish and lazy when we are anything but selfish and lazy

[BobfishAlmighty]

The problem I have, when I know how long I have to rest, it stops being restful. I can't stop and enjoy the quiet, because the deadline for getting back to work is just hanging over me the whole time. Rest time just makes me even more tired

[Leena]

One of the most useful things about finding out I have Asperger's has been the realization of having burnouts. I've definately learned that unless I put the necessary recovery breaks into my schedules, my body takes them by force. I compare myself to a computer, if there's too much stuff going on, the system freezes and requires cooling down and a thorough reboot.

For me, the idea of a 9-5 job, 5 days a week, is very anxiety inducing. I live my life through "projects", which consist of thorough planning, working intensively (almost around the clock) for a short while, and collapsing when I'm done. For me, interacting with other people is although sometimes enjoyable, always more or less exhausting, and since my diagnosis, one of the ways I've tried to improve my life has been arranging my calendar so that I have social activities only on a couple of days a week, and in between these days, time to recover and focus on my own things. And I also have noticed that after a longer stressful period, the recovery time is longer. I have serious trouble hopping from one project to another, and interruptions and distractions are very stressful.
Once I'm in burnout mode, usually I first stay in bed, in a dimly lit room, in fetal position, and often just sleep. The next step is focusing on things that help me recharge. Watching TV doesn't really give me energy either, but if I'm really burned out, I rewatch my favourites to calm down. Then I make art and let my mind wonder, and usually, at some point, I get a new idea for a new project, and the cycle starts over.

[dg]

Paranoia, constant self doubt/reflection, reactionary mindset, stress, social phobia is taxing

[trucid]

I found that taking a nap, even as small as 15 minutes can reset the fatigue.

[katibrownshire]

I never even considered that I could be autistic, but I stumbled across this channel and it's blowing my mind how much I relate to this. I'm a grad student and I can literally only work four hours a day. Then I have to take the whole rest of the day off. I can't just take a break and then work on something else, I have to do nothing the whole rest of the day. And I feel really embarrassed by that, because in my program we're literally being paid to do our grad work and we're expected to put 40 hours a week in. And I look around and see my classmates toiling for hours and hours every day, and I just can't do that! But on the other hand, I'm also aware of how super efficient and productive I am when I work. It's just like what he says, I burn super bright and get a LOT done, but then I'm done. No more executive functioning, no more nothing. But I probably get as much done in 4 hours as most people get done in 8 hours, or maybe more.

[glitchard]

In the past, before I discovered I was Autistic, I'd hit these moments where everything was terrible. I couldn't handle anything and it honestly felt like a mental breakdown. But in looking at these moments with new eyes, I see that, it is just like you said. We burn VERY bright. And VERY quickly. When I'm focused, I can super crank out production, but if I don't have that energy reserve - If I didn't get to recharge, I am done. Spent. Kapoot.

I'm on a mini-get-away currently, and it seems to be helping. I just wish I could put away some energy for myself. An emergency tank that I can tap into, when 'too much' is 'too much'.
Or level up my recharge speed. That'd be nice.

[jrtaylor]

I’ve found that autism burn out is because we don’t feel pain as much.. leading to putting our bodies to the limit and further. I’m currently a little burnt out, my tinnitus starts ringing harder..

I found practicing yoga helps keep mind body in tune.

[innovationsanonymous]

Getting physically sick from burnout is such a blessing, especially now that covid has everyone afraid of fevers.

[alexsautismacceptancechann]

Upon watching the video, my mind has been changed. You just have to pay really close attention to what your body is telling you, and designate a rest day for yourself. I totally agree with you Paul!

[andreagusev]

Like.. I just recently got this lightbulb moment when I researched autism and aspergers syndrome. Everything just clicked. This is the answer I have been looking for all these years. I have not even thought that not all people experience things the same way as me, and always felt like an oddball. These videos have just helped me so much to understand myself better and to be more forgiving when I just can’t do the same things than neurotypical people. Thank you so much!!

[mochiisluv]

I'm so glad I found this channel, even just reading the comments made me feel less alone in my experience. I've been working in a 9-5 office job for about 7 years now and still feel like I'm not used to it yet, compared to my coworkers and peers who seem to handle it fine. with covid and everything I think the long term burnout has finally caught up to me to the point that I'm really struggling to keep up. sometimes weekends are barely enough for me to recharge after a busy week.

[jays_vids]

My dude, since finding your channel it's like a huge knot of confusion about myself has been unravelled. Finally seeing that other people's experience of life has been as difficult and confusing as mine has been incredibly reassuring, and has made me feel like I'm actually doing OK considering the tools I'm working with. Thank you so much.

[arasharfa]

I think it is possible as long as you learn early on what your strengths and weaknesses are so you know what you have to work with. I don't think I would've had burned out as badly had i known how much I was overcompensating on a daily basis. On the other hand a burnout serves to teach you a lot about yourself in ways you might not have been able to without it.

[MtLionWay]

I view work as a cyclical activity. Big pushes, then gliding, then stopping to recharge.
Also, I occasionally need to recover from big unplanned stress events.
Recovery from a stress event can take 2 or 3 weeks. Only recently did I correlate fatigue with autism.
Before learning about autism, all my fatigue was blamed on a condition called CFS/ME that started in 1986.
Thank you for your insightful and informative talks about autism and smart emotional or social management.

[napoleon]

What helped me at work was to learn to set the standard at the very beginning. Realizing the amount of work I could do was usually more than they expected helped me learn to pace myself. Sure I could finish this project in a day. But they gave me a week. And if I finish in a day, tomorrow they’ll give me another one, and so on.

[justjust]

I’m very burned out right now and struggling to increase executive function. I seem to experience burnout periodically, so I’m very excited for this video!

[noobulon]

That last part about wanting to do fun things that take energy really hit home

[cor]

You asked for what can give energy:
Actually taking 50 mg Pregnenolone (transdermal doesn‘t work so good) and having once a week a very strong and long massage.
Not to forget my weighted blanket, my cat, peppermint oil for my nose and swimming in very cold water (best in seasalt water)/ cold showers...
(Strong burnout since more than 5 years.😒 only in surviving modus)
Very glad to have found your channel! 🙏