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Burnout Resources & Signposting
Autistic Burnout resources for young people, families & educational settings to help develop understanding and support healing.
“Burnout scores remained relatively stable over time, suggesting that for many autistic individuals, burnout may not be a short-term state but a chronic and persistent experience that requires longer-term, individualized supports.”
Bougoure, M., et al., (2025). Measuring autistic burnout: A psychometric validation of the AASPIRE Autistic Burnout Measure in autistic adults. Autism, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613251355255
Signposting & Ideas
- Adopt a low demand approach as whole family 💗
- Encourage children to rest & re-energise in ways that work for them 💗
- Increase time meeting sensory needs 💗
- Lots of time and compassion 💗
Articles and Resources about Autistic Burnout
Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism Autistic Burnout Article, written by Helen Edgar of Autistic Realms.
Autism Understood website by Spectrum Gaming has been written by and for young autistic people & is amazing! Helen Edgar of Autistic Realms contributed to the Autistic Burnout section.
Signposting
Autistic Girls Network
https://autisticgirlsnetwork.org/meltdowns-shutdowns-and-burnout/
Emergent Divergence
https://emergentdivergence.com/2023/08/03/alexithymia-and-autistic-burnout-too-tired-to-feel-it/
The Autistic Advocate (Kieran Rose)
https://theautisticadvocate.com/an-autistic-burnout/
Autism Understood
https://autismunderstood.co.uk/struggling-as-an-autistic-person/autistic-burnout/
Literally Ausome
https://literallyausome.com.au/autism/autistic-burnout
National Autistic Society
https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/autistic-burnout
Viv Dawes Autistic Advocate has regular family workshops to support parent/carers specifically experiencing burnout
https://www.autisticadvocate.co.uk
PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide – Valuable Autistic Burnout resource (Autistic Realms recommended signposting):
https://www.papyrus-uk.org/understanding-autistic-burnout/
Reframing Autism – Autistic Burnout Self-Care Strategies
https://reframingautism.org.au/navigating-autistic-burnout-self-care-strategies-to-recover-and-recalibrate/
Dr Joanne Riordan – Educational Psychologist
https://www.drjoanne.co.uk/
Embrace Autism – Autistic Burnout Info
https://embrace-autism.com/autistic-burnout/
Dr Naomi Fisher – Webinars and info about low demand approach & information about supporting children through autistic burnout:
https://naomi-fisher.mykajabi.com
The Other Autism. (2024, October 10). Autistic burnout, shutdown, and social hangover. The Other Autism.
Aucademy – Jodie Smitten and Chloe Farahar – Autistic Burnout https://www.youtube.com/live/ZjaeP-Gf9uk?si=wQEwNIR23BNPwbDO
Neurodivergent Insights – Autistic Burnout vs Depression
https://neurodivergentinsights.com/misdiagnosis-monday/autistic-burnout-vs-depression?format=amp
Bridging the NeuroDivide – Tigger Pritchard
Bridging Neurodivide (bridgingtheneurodivide.com)
Autistic Parents UK – webinars/ books and parent/carer support :
https://www.autisticparentsuk.org/resources-for-parents
John Pendal: “Early Warning Signs of Burnout”
The Autistic Advocate (Kieran Rose) SENtalk
Kristy Forbes – Autism & ND Support (Autistic Burnout Podcast)
https://tiltparenting.com/2023/02/07/autistic-burnout/
Purple Ella (Autistic Burnout YouTube)
https://youtu.be/fUSUGHWcKt4?si=LXK2sQw1nvNrAih7
Heather Cook (Autism Chrysalis)
Cook, H. (2025, February 15). How to Recover from Autistic Burnout. Autism Chrysalis. https://www.autismchrysalis.com/2022/10/22/how-to-recover-from-autistic-burnout/
Pooky Knightsbridge
Ideas for Avoiding Autistic Burnout – Pooky Ponders – Big Questions with Brilliant People. (2022, December 13). Buzzsprout. https://www.buzzsprout.com/1183931/episodes/11808833
MARF (Malaysian Autism Resource Foundation )
Understanding Autism Burnout | MARF. https://marf.org.my/understanding-autism-burnout/
Dulwich Centre
https://dulwichcentre.com.au/how-we-deal-with-autistic-burnout-by-kj-wiseheart/
Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism
https://thinkingautismguide.com/2023/09/supporting-your-young-person-through-autistic-burnout.html
Audre Lorde Radical Self Care
Newman-Bremang, K. (2021, May 28). Reclaiming Audre Lorde’s Radical Self-Care. Refinery29. https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2021/05/10493153/reclaiming-self-care-audre-lorde-black-women-community-care
BOOKS
Clarke, J. (2024). Young, autistic and burnt out. Independently Published.
Dawes, V. (2023) Supporting Children and Young People Through Autistic Burnout (A Workbook For Parents Of Autistic Children). Amazon
Dawes, V. (2025) The Young Person’s Guide to Autistic Burnout. Amazon
Dr. Natalie Engelbrecht ND RP et al (2024) Embrace Autism’s The Ultimate Guide to Autistic Burnout Amazon
Edgar, H. (2023) Embracing Monotropism and Supporting Young People To Help Prevent Autistic Burnout. Amazon
Fisher, N., Fisher, & Fricker, E. (2024). The Teenager’s Guide to Burnout: Finding the Road to Recovery. Robinson Press.
Garvey, N. (2023). Looking after your autistic self: A Personalized Self-Care Approach to Managing Your Sensory and Emotional Wellbeing. Jessica Kingsley
Neff, M. A. (2025). The Autistic Burnout Workbook: Your Guide to Your Personal Recovery Plan. Simon and Schuster.
Pavlopoulou, G., Crane, L., Hurn, R., & Milton, D. (2024). Improving mental health therapies for autistic children and young people: Promoting Self-Agency, Curiosity and Collaboration. Routledge.
Ray, S. (2025) Autistic Burnout Recovery Workbook: A Practical Guide for Late-Diagnosed Women to Heal, Set Boundaries, and Reclaim Their Energy. Amazon
Research
Arnold, S. R., Higgins, J. M., Weise, J., Desai, A., Pellicano, E., & Trollor, J. N. (2023). Confirming the nature of autistic burnout. Autism, 27(7), 1906–1918. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613221147410
Arnold, S, Higgins, J., Weise, J., Desai, A., Pellicano, E. & Trollor, J. (2021). Investigating autistic burnout #AutBurnout: Final Report. Brisbane: Autism CRC.
https://www.autismcrc.com.au/sites/default/files/reports/3-076RI_Autistic-Burnout_Executive-summary.pdf
Bougoure, M., Zhuang, S., Brett, J. D., Maybery, M. T., English, M. C., Tan, D. W., & Magiati, I. (2025). Measuring autistic burnout: A psychometric validation of the AASPIRE Autistic Burnout Measure in autistic adults. Autism, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613251355255
Browne, K., Lawson, W., McGarry, S., Scott, M., Girdler, S., & Milbourn, B. (2024). “Consistent Support is Good for my Mental Health”—Exploring the lived experience of autistic mental health. Autism in Adulthood. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2024.0141
Buckle, Karen Lenah., (2022) Autistic inertia: What it is and what helps https://autisticinertia.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Inertia-what-it-is-and-what-helps.pdf
Carney, D. (2024, February 28), Study explores what it’s like to experience autistic burnout. . BPS. https://www.bps.org.uk/research-digest/study-explores-what-its-experience-autistic-burnout
Cassidy, S., Bradley, L., Shaw, R., & Baron-Cohen, S. (2018). Risk markers for suicidality in autistic adults. Molecular Autism, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13229-018-0226-4
Clarey, M.M., Abel, S., Ireland, M.J. et al. Autistic Burnout on Reddit: A Sisyphean Struggle with Daily Tasks. J Autism Dev Disord (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-025-06765-4
Ferguson, Ashton, Martin, David and Pearson, Amy (2024) “It has shown me how much I am capable of”: An Exploration of Autistic Burnout Experiences in Motherhood. Autism in Adulthood. ISSN 2573-9581 https://sure.sunderland.ac.uk/id/eprint/18500/
Feidner MJ. Burning Bridges and Building New Ones: A Story of Autistic Burnout in the Workplace. Autism Adulthood. 2024 Jun 17;6(2):117-118. doi: 10.1089/aut.2023.0087.
Higgins, Julianne; Arnold, Samuel (2023). Understanding autistic burnout from experts with lived experience. Nature Awards for Inclusive Health Research. Online resource. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.24659622.v2
Higgins, J., 1, Weise, J., Trollor, J., 1, Pellicano, E., & Samuel Arnold. (2021). Defining Autistic Burnout using Grounded Delphi Method: Autistic Burnout through the Eyes of Experts by Lived Experience. In Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry (3DN), UNSW Sydney, NSW, Australia. https://www.autismcrc.com.au/sites/default/files/posters/3-076RI_Higgins_Defining_Autistic_Burnout_using_Grounded_Delphi_Method.pdf
Jahandideh, P., Seyedmirzaei, H., Rasoulian, P., & Memari, A. (2025). Low battery alarm; A scoping review of autistic burnout. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-025-06860-6
Mantzalas, J., Richdale, A. L., Li, X., & Dissanayake, C. (2024). Measuring and validating autistic burnout. Autism Research, 17(7), 1417–1449. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.3129
Raymaker, D. M., Teo, A. R., Steckler, N. A., Lentz, B., Scharer, M., Santos, A. D., Kapp, S. K., Hunter, M., Joyce, A., & Nicolaidis, C. (2020). “Having All of Your Internal Resources Exhausted Beyond Measure and Being Left with No Clean-Up Crew”: Defining Autistic Burnout. Autism in Adulthood, 2(2), 132–143. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2019.0079
Rosqvist, H. B., Hultman, L., & Hallqvist, J. (2023). Energy management. Alter, 17–3, 25–38. https://doi.org/10.4000/9ifu
Royal College of Psychiatry: The psychiatric management of autism in adults CR228, July 2020
This document is part of the College’s commitment to improving mental health services for those autistic adults who do not have a generalised intellectual disability.
https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/improving-care/campaigning-for-better-mental-health-policy/college-reports/2020-college-reports/cr228
Schoondermark, F., Spek, A., & Kiep, M. (2024). Evaluating an autistic burnout measurement in women. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-024-06438-8
Jonathan Summerill, S.J. (Ash) Summers, (2025)
The consequences of social camouflaging in autistic adults: A systematic review, Research in Autism, Volumes 121–122,
202556, ISSN 3050-6565,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reia.2025.202556.
Sici Zhuang, Diana Weiting Tan, Susan Reddrop, Lydia Dean, Murray Maybery, Iliana Magiati, (2023) Psychosocial factors associated with camouflaging in autistic people and its relationship with mental health and well-being: A mixed methods systematic review, Clinical Psychology Review, Volume 105, 2023, 102335, ISSN 0272-7358, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2023.102335.
Siggers G, Day B. Beyond School Avoidance: Recognising, Identifying, and Addressing Autistic Burnout in Children. BJPsych Open. 2024;10(S1):S169-S169. doi:10.1192/bjo.2024.433
Strzelecki, D. D. (2025). Autistic burnout – a preliminary research report. Journal of Modern Science, 61(1), 618–642. https://doi.org/10.13166/jms/202665
Harmful ABA and PBS
Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) and Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) are harmful strategies that contribute towards trauma and mental health difficulties.
There is growing research and evidence around the damaging effects ABA and PBS cause people.
I frequently get asked for information about this, so I have collated a free downloadable PDF signposting document if you’d like to find out more.
I am doing a lot of work with Stimpunks to raise awareness about the harm caused by behaviourist approaches and why we need neuro-affirming practice.
Please check out our anti-behaviourism resources and discover alternative ways to behaviourism. We have collated a vast quantity of academic and community-sourced writing and evidence and created WHY SHEETS to help people self-advocate for their needs in schools and other settings. These resources have been endorsed by our growing list of signatories.
Our why sheets concisely explain why some education and parenting practices, such as behaviourist approaches, can cause harm, but there are neuro-affirming alternative ways!
Behaviorism
Alternatives to ABA
Positive Greetings at the Door
Queer and Neurodivergent Liberation are Entwined
Sign a Why Sheet
If you think this is valuable, please add your signature as parent / carer or professional to the Stimpunks Why Sheets to help endorse these documents and give even more weighting to them.
To be a signatory on a why sheet, visit the “Sign Why Sheet” form.
Check out Neurodiverse Connection’s AGAINST PBS & ABA CAMPAIGN which I have endorsed.
Read the blog: Why PBS Is Harmful for Neurodivergent Young People
Crisis Support
Papyrus – prevention of young suicide
Supporting Autistic Adult’s Mental Health:
https://amase.org.uk/resources/mhguide/
💗 If you or your young person needs support or is in crisis please seek professional support. Remember to look after your own mental health too 💗
Why CBT may not be the best approach for all Autistic people
FREE PDF DOWNLOAD
Anti-ABA and
Anti PBS
FREE PDF DOWNLOAD
Please visit my shop for e-books and other resources, including:
Autistic Burnout: A Family Guide
Embracing Monotropism and Supporting Young People to Prevent Autistic Burnout
If you know of further signposting for children and young people/families/education please let me know.
Read My Posts Related to Burnout
Shop My Burnout Visuals
Understanding and recognising Autistic burnout is vital for wellbeing. These resources offer visual supports to help identify signs of burnout, explore recovery strategies, and develop personalised approaches to energy management. Designed for both individuals experiencing burnout and those supporting them in educational, home, and workplace environments.
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