Burnout Sent Me to the Hospital

By Clara H

On November, 8th 2019 around 9:30am I was in a dance class at my school when all of a sudden I collapsed on the gym floor. I was conscious but could barely move a muscle or communicate in any way. 911 was dialed and I was sent to the Emergency room in an ambulance. Doctors thought that I had a bad seizure or possibly a brain tumor or​ stroke. ​

I went through blood tests, MRIs, a CT scan, and an EEG. The results showed that I was fine so nobody knew what the problem was. My family and friends were worried sick about me thinking I may never be the same.

Luckily, I was able to go home on November, 10th though I was still not feeling like myself. I missed almost an entire week of school in order to get better. I went to doctor appointments nearly every day for the rest of the month. I also started to go to physical therapy sense vertigo seemed to be what caused this traumatic experience.

Everyone has been telling me different reasons for this event. I've been told I could have a seizure disorder, atypical migraines, Meniere's disease, and many other conditions. I do not believe any of those to be correct because I do not feel all that sick. Mainly I feel tired, confused, and stressed.

Not too long ago I heard about something called "autistic burnout" which different than a professional burnout because it has different causes and symptoms. It is not usually taught in school or studied thoroughly so many people have never heard about it before. This came to my attention of needing to be addressed because of how extreme my situation was.
​
So, what is an autistic burnout? Well, It’s a way the atypical mind takes a break from being in a neurotypical world making it seem like their condition is regressing. They tend to be seen mainly in teens and young adults with Asperger Syndrome because of the exhaustion of trying to pass a typically developed person. Many people going through it (myself included) don't even realize it until it's too late. ​

Your loved one could be at risk of burnout if they:

• Stim less than usual
• Don't talk about their feelings
• Often mask their autism traits
• Are under a lot of stress
• Overworking themselves
• Aren't getting enough rest 

Common symptoms and how to help:

• Has your loved ones sensory sensitivities increased? If so they could be going through burnout. You should be using a lot of sensory overload coping techniques during this time. For instance: noise-canceling headphones and tight pressure. 
• Secondly, they might experience having meltdowns more than usual. Be gentle with them by using simple words. Too much talking can make them get more upset.
• Another thing you might notice is being unable to notice simple details. In this case, ask them to do a simple task that requires finding an object. For example, skater their toys on a table and ask them to point a specific one. Can they do it? If they seem to be having a hard time, make it simpler by taking some of the toys away. 
• Stimming more than usual is a good thing when someone is having a breakdown. Even if they are doing it because they are upset it means that they are getting their emotions out of their heads. 
• Maybe their vocabulary has decreased or they are unresponsive. When you ask them questions be sure to give them time to process their thoughts. Help them by using this or that technique. Say things like "How are you doing? Good or bad?" Simply wait a few seconds before you ask them again. For the second time, consider giving them different options and rephrasing the question in a more specific way. Say, "How are you feeling right now? Happy or sad?"
• They also might be easily distracted. Keep them away from possible distractions and remind them of what they should be doing often. 
• Lastly, a common burnout symptom is getting physically and mentally exhausted easily. It's important to have them take frequent breaks. During breaks, make sure they are comfortable and in a quiet place that they feel safe in.

---

​Click here to go back to the main blog page.