I'm joined by autism advocate Viv Dawes who shares her expertise on autistic burnout. She discusses the signs and symptoms of burnout, and provides a 10-point "burnout prescription" for recovery and prevention.
Topics we chat about include acknowledging exhaustion, reducing demands, embracing neurodivergent identity, the importance of rest, sensory needs, and more.
Episode Highlights:
- Autistic burnout is a real phenomenon that requires prolonged recovery time. It is not something that can be recovered from quickly.
- Understanding one's autistic identity and needs is crucial for preventing burnout. Embracing stimming and other self-regulatory behaviors is important.
- Recovery requires acknowledging exhaustion, reducing demands, spending time on interests, alone time, and time with understanding peers.
- Recovery looks different for everyone and may involve long periods of rest, changes in routine, and avoiding past overload situations. It is a journey that takes time and space.
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