When an autistic burnout happens, it feels like a dam has broken, and the process of self-regulation after it is slow and challenging. Many people cannot grasp how debilitating this can be – affecting everything from relationships to daily tasks.

Not many people know this but one of my most significant autistic burnouts happened during my transition from primary to secondary school. At the time, I wasn’t diagnosed, but looking back, I now recognise it for what it was. The enormity of that change took its toll on me, both mentally and physically. I could barely walk or get out of bed, required hospital treatment and was absent from school for a long period. Unfortunately, after undergoing numerous tests, I feel I was misdiagnosed with a form of childhood ME. Although, I believe that if I had received an ASD diagnosis back then, it would have just added to the other pressures I already faced, and the stigma of being autistic would have made things worse – Everything happens for a reason.

Throughout my life, I have experienced many autistic burnouts, some more severe than others. Receiving a late diagnosis of autism has helped me identify and understand lots of my triggers, allowing me to take steps to avoid them. However, my ability to control these triggers is limited, as many of them are external factors beyond my influence. This is why I try to communicate this with those around me, raising awareness and speaking openly about any adjustments that might help. Unfortunately, despite my efforts to explain this, there are times when i am completely ignored, which can be frustrating and triggering.

Living with an invisible disability presents lots of different challenges. I often feel marginalised because people assume that, since I can articulate my issues clearly I must be able to cope with them or that they aren’t as serious as they truly are – maybe it’s the way I explain it or my level of masking? These are Questions i frequently ask myself. 

To make a more inclusive society, people need to stop with the outdated misconceptions about neurotypes like autism and other neurodivergent experiences. Instead, start listening to the voices of people who live with these conditions and acknowledge the true realities.