Autistic Burnout resources for Autistic people of every age and for families & professionals to help develop understanding and support healing.

Understanding Autistic Burnout

I can’t seem to stop writing, but I keep dreaming of the end — a life where I don’t have to say anything to anyone, or ever think anything remotely original, where no one relies upon me to “use my platform” and I can just be unremarkable and wordless and yet cared for, like a pet. I imagine that if I keep writing and burning myself out, the day will come when I have no more words in me at all……..

This is what burnout has been like for me, and for many others who have been disabled by it. With each round, it’s made me slower and more fragile, my brain sludgier and less willing to exert effort. Eventually, after a long enough period of rest, some vestige of passion does come back and directs itself at something new. But I never return to being the person I was. And I get more tired, more quickly, each time.

— drdevonprice.substack.com – You Might Not Recover From Burnout

“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.

Support Through Burnout

• Adopt a low-demand approach
  
• Encourage rest, and ways to re-energise that meet authentic Autistic needs
  
• Increase more time spent meeting sensory needs
  
• Offer time and compassion, without rushing recovery
  
  
  
  

Articles, Blogs & Websites

In alphabetical order.

• Alice Nicholls  dralicenicholls.com
• Audre Lorde’s Radical Self-Care – Newman-Bremang, K. (2021). Reclaiming Audre Lorde’s radical self-care. Refinery29.  Read the article
• Autism Central (NHS) – Helen’s articles for Anna Freud NHS Autism Central about Autistic burnout.  Read the articles
• Autism Understood – Written by and for young Autistic people, by Spectrum Gaming. Helen contributed the Autistic burnout section.  Shutdowns  |  Autistic burnout
• Autistic Advocate, The (Kieran Rose) – “An Autistic Burnout.”  Read the article
• Autistic Burnout Network – Helen is a member of this network, which promotes understanding, recognition and acceptance of Autistic burnout. Led by neurodivergent professionals for Autistic people, offering events, resources and training.  Visit the site & watch the recordings
• Autistic Girls Network  Meltdowns, shutdowns and burnout
• Autistic Parents UK – Webinars, books and parent/carer support.  Resources for Autistic parents
• Barriers to Education – “What Is Burnout?” An evidence-based guide for educators and families on recognising burnout in children and young people, particularly those who are neurodivergent. Helen contributed to this page.  Read the article & check out the website
• Bridging the NeuroDivide (Tigger Pritchard) – Full resource index.  Visit the site
• Canary SEND – “Beyond ‘School Refusal’: What Happens When a Child’s Nervous System Says Enough” — rethinking burnout, attendance and the limits of endurance.  Read the article
• Dr Joanne Riordan – Educational Psychologist.  drjoanne.co.uk
• Dulwich Centre – “How We Deal With Autistic Burnout,” by KJ Wiseheart.  Read the article
• Embrace Autism – Autistic burnout information.  Read more
• Neurohub Community David Gray-Hammond– “Alexithymia and Autistic Burnout: Too Tired to Feel It.”  Read the article, join a community & explore loads more information about burnout
• Heather Cook (Autism Chrysalis) – Cook, H. (2025). How to recover from Autistic burnout.  Read the article
• Jennifer Kemp – “Autistic Burnout: A Brief Guide to Recovery and Prevention.”  Read the guide
• Jodie Clarke – Children’s Wellbeing Practitioner and Autism Specialist offering support, training and consultancy; also author of Young, Autistic and Burnt Out (see Books, below). jodieclarke.co.uk
• John Pendal – “Early Warning Signs of Burnout.”  Read the blog
• Literally Ausome  Autistic burnout
• MARF (Malaysian Autism Resource Foundation) – “Understanding Autism Burnout.”  Read the article
• National Autistic Society  Autistic burnout
• ND Stress – “The Many Paths Out of Autistic Burnout.”  Read the article
• Neurodivergent Insights – “Autistic Burnout vs Depression.”  Read the article
• Neurodiverse Connection – A neurodiversity-affirming guide to Autistic burnout, plus resources on meltdowns/shutdowns and trauma responses.  Main site  |  Burnout guide  |  Understanding meltdowns and shutdowns  |  Trauma responses in Autistic people
• NeuroHub Community – A neurodivergent-led consultancy and community platform offering training, courses and peer support for neurodivergent adults and professional training and resources.  Visit the site
• Other Autism, The – The Other Autism. (2024, October 10). Autistic burnout, shutdown, and social hangover.  Read the article
• PsychVault (Ethan Smith) – “Autistic Burnout: A Mismatch Problem” — a neurodiversity-affirming look at burnout as resulting from chronic environmental mismatch and unmet support needs, with practical strategies for reducing load. Read the article
• Reframing Autism – “Autistic Burnout Self-Care Strategies.”  Read the article
• SEMA (Scottish Ethnic Minority Autistics) – Scotland’s only autistic minority ethnic-led organisation, offering training, consultancy and community support for racialised Autistic people and the professionals and organisations that support them. Visit the site
• Stimpunks Foundation – An overview of Autistic burnout: its causes, characteristics and recovery strategies, emphasising that burnout comes from mismatched environmental demands rather than being an inherent Autistic trait. Read the article
• Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism – “Supporting Your Young Person Through Autistic Burnout,” written by Helen Edgar of Autistic Realms.  Read the article
• Viv Dawes, Autistic Advocate – Runs regular family workshops to support parents/carers experiencing burnout. Get support.

Videos & Podcasts

In alphabetical order.

• Aucademy – Jodie Smitten and Chloe Farahar discuss Autistic burnout (YouTube livestream).  Watch
• Autistic Burnout Network Events 2025 & 2026– Viv Dawes and Helen Edgar, “Autistic Burnout and Family Life / School” — free training plus many other free presentations.  Event page  |  Watch
• Kristy Forbes – Autism & ND Support — Autistic burnout podcast episode.  Listen
• London Autism Podcast – Helen’s deep dive into Monotropism: how Autistic attention shapes experience, why burnout happens, and how reclaiming rest becomes a radical and restorative practice.  Listen  |  About the podcast
• Pooky Knightsbridge – “Ideas for Avoiding Autistic Burnout” — Pooky Ponders: Big Questions with Brilliant People (2022).  Listen
• Purple Ella – Autistic burnout (YouTube).  Watch
• SENtalk with The Autistic Advocate (Kieran Rose)  Watch

Books

In alphabetical order by author.

Clarke, J. (2024). Young, autistic and burnt out. Independently Published. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Young-Autistic-Burnt-Jodie-Clarke/dp/B0DPCVHW3V

Dawes, V. (2023). Supporting children and young people through Autistic burnout (a workbook for parents of Autistic children). https://www.amazon.co.uk/Supporting-Children-Through-Autistic-Workbook/dp/B0C6P6DZ38

Dawes, V. (2025). The young person’s guide to Autistic burnout. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Young-Persons-Guide-Autistic-Burnout/dp/1805017322

Edgar, H. (2023). Embracing Monotropism and supporting young people to help prevent Autistic burnout. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Embracing-Monotropism-Supporting-Prevent-Autistic/dp/B0CM1HN4SW

Engelbrecht, N., ND RP, et al. (2024). Embrace Autism’s the ultimate guide to Autistic burnout. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultimate-Autistic-Burnout-Embrace-Autisms/dp/B0DZD351TZ

Garvey, N. (2023). Looking after your autistic self: A personalized self-care approach to managing your sensory and emotional wellbeing. Jessica Kingsley. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Looking-After-Your-Autistic-Self/dp/1839975601

Neff, M. A. (2025). The Autistic burnout workbook: Your guide to your personal recovery plan. Simon and Schuster. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Autistic-Burnout-Workbook-Personal-Recovery/dp/1507223064

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. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Improving-Mental-Therapies-Autistic-Children/dp/1032372524

Ray, S. (2025). Autistic burnout recovery workbook: A practical guide for late-diagnosed women to heal, set boundaries, and reclaim their energy. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Autistic-Burnout-Recovery-Workbook-Late-Diagnosed/dp/B0FFBNF16K

Academic Research

In alphabetical order by first author.

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. 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, K. L. (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 Research Digest. 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. (2025). Autistic burnout on Reddit: A Sisyphean struggle with daily tasks. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-025-06765-4

Feidner, M. J. (2024). Burning bridges and building new ones: A story of Autistic burnout in the workplace. Autism in Adulthood, 6(2), 117–118. doi: 10.1089/aut.2023.0087. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11304729/

Ferguson, A., Martin, D., & Pearson, A. (2024). “It has shown me how much I am capable of”: An exploration of Autistic burnout experiences in motherhood. Autism in Adulthood. https://sure.sunderland.ac.uk/id/eprint/18500/

Higgins, J., & Arnold, S. (2023). Understanding autistic burnout from experts with lived experience. Nature Awards for Inclusive Health Research. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.24659622.v2

Higgins, J., Weise, J., Trollor, J., Pellicano, E., & Arnold, S. (2021). Defining autistic burnout using grounded Delphi method: Autistic burnout through the eyes of experts by lived experience. Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry (3DN), UNSW Sydney. 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 Psychiatrists. (2020). The psychiatric management of autism in adults (CR228). Part of the College’s commitment to improving mental health services for 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

Siggers, G., & Day, B. (2024). Beyond school avoidance: Recognising, identifying, and addressing Autistic burnout in children. BJPsych Open, 10(S1), S169. https://doi.org/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

Summerill, J., & Summers, S. J. A. (2025). The consequences of social camouflaging in autistic adults: A systematic review. Research in Autism, 121–122, 202556. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reia.2025.202556

Zhuang, S., Tan, D. W., Reddrop, S., Dean, L., Maybery, M., & Magiati, I. (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, 105, 102335. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2023.102335

Anti-ABA, Anti-PBS &
Neuro-Affirming Practice

Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) and Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) are harmful strategies that contribute towards trauma and mental health difficulties, with growing research and evidence behind the damage they can cause. Helen has collated a free, downloadable PDF signposting document for anyone who’d like to find out more:

Why PBS Is Harmful for Autistic and Neurodivergent Young People

Helen also works with Stimpunks to raise awareness of the harm caused by behaviourist approaches, and why neuro-affirming practice matters.

Their anti-behaviourism resources bring together a wide range of academic and community-sourced writing and evidence, including WHY SHEETS that help people self-advocate for their needs in school and other settings.

These are endorsed by a growing list of signatories and explain concisely why practices like ABA and PBS can cause harm, alongside neuro-affirming alternatives.

• Alternatives to ABA  Read
• Behaviourism: Why It Is Harmful  Read
• Hoodie (Stimpunks Why Sheet)  Read
• Neuroqueer Learning Spaces  Read
• Positive Greetings at the Door (Stimpunks Why Sheet)  Read
• Queer and Neurodivergent Liberation Are Entwined (Stimpunks Why Sheet)  Read

If you’d like to support this work, you can add your signature as a parent, carer or professional to the Stimpunks Why Sheets. Signatures help give these documents even more weight:

Sign a Why Sheet

Also worth a look: Neurodiverse Connection’s Against PBS & ABA campaign, which Helen has endorsed, and the blog Why PBS Is Harmful for Neurodivergent Young People.

Free Downloads

• Why CBT May Not Be the Best for All Autistic People  Download the PDF
  
• Why Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) Is Harmful – Anti-ABA / anti-PBS signposting and further research.  Download the PDF
  
  

Shop & Visual Resources

Visit Autistic Realms shop for e-books and other resources, including:

• Autistic Burnout: A Family Guide
• Embracing Monotropism and Supporting Young People to Prevent Autistic Burnout

Understanding and recognising Autistic burnout is vital for wellbeing. These visual resources support identifying signs of burnout, exploring recovery strategies, and developing personalised approaches to energy management, for use at home, in education, and in the workplace.

Support For Adults

If you or your loved one needs support, please seek professional support.

Autistic Parents UK – Webinars, books and parent/carer support.  Resources for Autistic parents

Thriving Autistic – Autistic-led, neuro-affirming organisation offering community support, advocacy, and training.
https://thrivingautistic.org/

Discovery by Thriving Autistic – Resources to support Autistic people on their journey after identification or diagnosis.
https://discover.thrivingautistic.org/

Neurodivergent Practitioners Network – Thriving Autistics ’ neuro-affirming sister organisation offering a global directory connecting people with neurodivergent-led, neurodiversity-affirming therapists, coaches, and other practitioners. https://neurodivergentpractitioners.org/

NeuroHub Community – A neurodivergent-led consultancy and community platform offering training, courses and peer support for neurodivergent adults and professional training and resources. 

https://neurohubcommunity.org/

AMASE – Supporting Autistic adults’ mental health guide. 
Read the guide

Support for Children, Young People and Families

Autism Central – NHS-backed peer education programme (delivered with Anna Freud) offering free online training and resources for Autistic people, families/carers and professionals.

Autism Understood – Signposting and information service for Autistic people and families in Greater Manchester/Cheshire, run by the same charity family as Spectrum Gaming.

Autistic Girls Network – Charity tackling under-recognition and late diagnosis in Autistic girls, women and those assigned female at birth, with a strong focus on masking and school experience.

AUsome Training – Autistic-led training for parents/carers and professionals, grounded in lived experience.

GROVE – Neurodivergent-led mentoring and education service, providing training, resources and mentoring for Autistic and neurodivergent children and young people, and the families and professionals who support them.

Not Fine in School – Parent-led community on school attendance difficulties, closely tied to burnout, shutdown and skill loss in children.

PDA Society – UK charity for the Pathological/Pervasive Demand Avoidance profile, where burnout is often misread as defiance rather than exhaustion.

Spectrum Gaming – Autistic-led charity building safe, joyful online gaming communities for Autistic children and young people.

Square Peg – Campaigns and resources on emotionally based school avoidance, run by and for families of children who can’t attend school due to anxiety or overwhelm.

Stimpunks Foundation – Neurodivergent-led nonprofit providing mutual aid, financial assistance, community and educational resources for Autistic and neurodivergent people and families.

Crisis Lines

Stimpunks Regulation and Coping – Global hotlines and helplines


UK (Shout): text SHOUT to 85258

Ireland (Spun Out): text HELLO to 50808

US/Canada (Crisis Text Line): text HOME or HOLA to 741741

Find A Helpline – A global directory of crisis helplines and support services across 175+ countries.

PAPYRUS – Prevention of Young Suicide |  Autistic burnout resource

Free Training

Viv Dawes and Helen Edgar: Autistic Burnout Network Event 2025

More Resources

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