I think I'm experiencing burnout again and it's frustrating

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Last year I experienced probably the worst bout of autistic burnout that I've had yet. For a few months I was improving and overall doing better, but lately I've noticed that I'm starting to develop a lot of the same issues again. I am baffled though because I didn't expect to get this exhausted so quickly, so it's irritating me because I feel like the people around me can handle so much more than I can without this happening and it makes me feel useless since it affects my functioning.

I think moving recently, masking around so many people (my brother and his girlfriend have had a bunch of people over that I've never met before during the holidays), and losing one of my friends has been taxing me mentally and socially. I didn't really fully recover from the burnout I had last year, but I was doing a lot better and now I feel like I'm starting to become really stressed out and depressed again.

I also am worried because when I'm stressed out this much I can't handle doing as many tasks and doing them as easily as I normally can, and I can't handle being around people for long at all. I don't want my brother and his girlfriend to notice and think I'm just being lazy and antisocial. My brother doesn't really think I have ASD because his perception of it is severe autism and I mask around people relatively okay most of the time, so I can't explain to him why I'm not being as efficient and as social as I normally am because he'll probably think I'm just making excuses.

I'm just tired of getting so exhausted over things other people can handle easily. I don't like how this affects my ability to function so much and that I don't really have control over it. I can't try to ignore it and just grin and bear it like with some other things, which sucks. This is one of those times I really wish I did not have autism.

I hope you can find stress relief. It is a good idea to find things that you love doing and relax in them if you can.

The last time i experienced burnout was about 10 years, maybe 15years ago, i wouldn't call it frustrating , but for a driving game it was quite challenging.

You've been through a lot this year and I think you've done incredibly well under the circumstances. Take comfort knowing that you've done nothing wrong, and you're justified to feel the way you do. It's exhausting to process one change in our lives, let alone several. I tip my hat to you, for navigating as well as you do!

What helps you to recover, or feel better, when you have a burnout? Do you mostly need to withdraw from sensory stimuli, or is it social-emotional overload, or more likely everything all at once? Sometimes I have to make a list of "What helps" instead of a list of "What to avoid", if that makes sense. It's nice to make a list of things I enjoy or want, and find ways to fulfil those wishes. Even if it means rewarding yourself by looking at dog photos online, it's something to look forward to which is a positive when your body is shutting down. Baby steps and small acts of self-care or self-forgiveness really help.

I've been in prolonged burnout for years. There are lots of things I've done to make my days more comfortable, and each one brings a smile to my day. I hope you can find the same, without feeling guilt or shame for needing time to recharge.

Why does it matter ultimately to you if they judge you lazy and antisocial. I don't understand this masking business. I just act around people how i want to act.

Thank you, I've been trying to do that and it does help a bit.


Being able to withdraw from sensory stimulation and socializing helps, though I can't always do that. People get worried and bother me because they think I'm upset at them or really depressed when I do. At my lower points if I was able to just sit by myself in my room it'd help a lot, but it makes me feel guilty and distracts me from destressing since I don't want to stress people out. It's hard to get over that since I don't like upsetting people.

I have been trying to distract myself by playing games and being with the dogs, which has definitely been helpful, but lately I'm getting so irritable and hypersensitive that I can't really handle being around them (dogs are noisy and the ones here are sorta needy so they are all over me lol). I'm just overall really exhausted and depressed right now, and all I feel like I can handle doing without getting upset/more exhausted is laying down in the dark by myself.


It stresses me out because they're part of my family and I live with them. I don't like my family members being upset with me and calling me lazy, or pointing out my social issues. I also don't have a job yet so I am constantly stressed because I feel like I'm not pulling my own weight where I live, so if they started actively thinking of me as lazy that'd upset me.

You are your own worse critic , never compare yourself to others. The more you compare yourself to someone else the more you subject yourself to someone else's expectations. You will eventually lose sight of your own definition of succeeding and focus way too much what others might be thinking of you which ultimately leads to burnout.

Did it give you Drain Damage

True. Thank you for that advice. I definitely have an issue with comparing myself to people in my family and letting that stress me out.