Transition to Adulthood – Autistic Burnout and the Costs of Coping and Passing

The term “autistic burnout” has been widely discussed within the autistic community for years, describing extreme exhaustion, loss of skills, and an inability to cope with daily life. While often compared to professional burnout, autistic burnout affects all aspects of life, with triggers including masking, life transitions, and chronic stress. Despite the urgent need for research, existing studies focus on caregiver burnout rather than the burnout experienced by autistic individuals. The Aspire Autistic Burnout Study aims to define autistic burnout, differentiate it from other forms of burnout, and develop a measure to assess it. Using qualitative data from interviews, social media, and community insights, researchers identified common themes such as stress, masking, and social isolation as key contributors. The goal is to create a validated tool to measure burnout and inform interventions, ultimately improving support for autistic individuals facing this crisis.