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Autistic Burnout: Symptoms, Causes, and Recovery Tips

What is autistic burnout?

Autistic burnout, although a straightforward term, is not fully understood by experts. It is often mistaken for depression or other mental disorders. However, studies show that it does not have the same features as depression and the exhaustion neurotypical people feel.

Over the years, autistic burnout has become a popular term in the medical and social media community. It even has its hashtag (Autistic Burnout). Experts carry out numerous research to understand the disorder deeply. According to recent studies, autistic burnout is usually accompanied by:

  • Chronic exhaustion [1]
  • Losing skills
  • Lowered tolerance for stimuli

Experts are always reluctant to use the phrase “Autistic burnout” to describe these symptoms because it does not belong to the DSM-5. Dr. Rachel Bedard, a writer for Autism Parenting Magazine and a professional psychologist refers to the phenomenon as a normal expression of severe fatigue.

It is important to normalize autistic burnout in our society, so people can feel less stigmatized and more accepting. Experts believe that it is easy to process and identify the process leading to the disorder if it is accepted in society.