Autistic burnout

Autistic burnout is the name autistic people use for a state of deep exhaustion that builds after a long stretch of coping, masking Masking Hiding or holding in the signs of being autistic to fit in, often without meaning to. It is a big reason a child can seem fine at school and fall apart at home. Read the full definition of Masking and managing demands that outstrip a person's resources. Research with autistic adults describes long-lasting exhaustion, losing the ability to do things they could do before, and finding noise, light and other input harder to bear.

In a child it can look like this: they were coping at school, more or less, and then quite suddenly they cannot. They may talk less, manage less, drop skills they had, and stop being able to attend. It is often mistaken for depression, laziness or misbehaviour, and none of those framings help.

Most of the research so far is with adults, so applying the idea to children is an informed extension rather than settled science. What consistently helps is reducing demands, allowing real rest, and easing sensory Sensory Needs One of the eight Assembly Dimensions. It covers how your child takes in sound, touch, taste, smell and movement, and how they react to it. Read the full definition of Sensory Needs pressure, rather than pushing through.

Burnout is heavy, and it can sit close to low mood. If your child seems hopeless or talks about hurting themselves, seek help now, from your GP GP Your family doctor. For many families the GP is the first person to talk to, and the person who refers your child on to a specialist. Read the full definition of GP , from NHS 111 NHS 111 A free NHS phone and online service for urgent medical help. Call 111 or use the NHS 111 website when you need help now and it is not a 999 emergency. Read the full definition of NHS 111 , or from A&E if you are frightened for their safety. That is never an overreaction.