Neurodivergent individuals who are experiencing burnout are in need of support.

Thank you for helping us.

The 5 S’s

Neurodivergent individuals need to prioritise healing and take a break, whether through respite or support from family or funds. The five principles of healing from burnout are:

Stop or slow down as much as possible,

Seclude, or reduce contact with people,

Engage in Special interests for regulation

Stim (regulation through motor movement), and;

Support

Masking is concealing one's natural way of being or processing information in a socially acceptable manner. Neurodivergent individuals face a greater burden when it comes to masking as they have to use more executive functioning and attention to do so. This is why masking is one of the biggest contributors to neurodivergent burnout. Due to the high levels of energy used by neurodivergent individuals, the brain is vulnerable to damage from stress and cortisol, leading to burnout and other mental health problems.

Neurodivergent people process more at rest. Our brains are very active.

It is important to note that individuals may not be aware that they are masking, as they may have developed this habit prior to having conscious recall of memories. This habit can lead to a disconnection from one's authentic self and can contribute to a traumatic response. The real problem is that masking contributes to burnout and can result in various mental health problems, as well as autoimmune and physical conditions.

Masking refers to concealing one's true self and adapting to societal norms and expectations. It is a common practice in neurodivergent individuals, who may experience challenges in fitting in with societal expectations due to their differences. The act of masking can take a toll on the individual's health; cognitively, emotionally, and physically.

Executive functioning, or the ability to direct attention, plan, and organise behaviour, is crucial for masking. Neurodivergent individuals have to use more of their executive functioning to mask and conform to societal norms, which can lead to executive fatigue. This added strain on executive functioning can leave the individual vulnerable to burnout, stress, and other mental health problems.

Additionally, research has shown that neurodivergent individuals have higher levels of excitability and use more energy in general, even at rest. When this added energy expenditure is combined with the energy used to mask, the individual is at a higher risk of burnout. This can lead to conditions such as depression, anxiety, OCD, eating disorders, self-harm, suicidality, and in severe cases, autoimmune conditions.

Masking can also be harmful because it can prevent individuals from fully expressing themselves and accessing their true emotions. When individuals have been masking for a long time, they may not have conscious recall of what it is like to be their authentic selves. This can result in a loss of identity and a disconnection from one's emotions, leading to further harm to mental health.

Overall, masking can have serious consequences for neurodivergent individuals, and it is important for them to have access to support and resources to help them manage the stress and burnout that can result from masking.

Your loved one is probably masking, and they may not know it.

Another challenge is that individuals may not be aware of what is happening in the moment due to delayed responses, interoception issues, and excessive processing.

 Essentially, this is related to the processing capacity being overworked by all the information and stimuli in the environment. Some individuals may have dissociation from a situation, as they have learned to shut down or block out certain stimuli. However, this can lead to a situation where a person may experience a panic attack, for example, and not realise it until it is well underway.

This can be compared to a computer that is working hard and processing a large amount of information, but eventually reaches its limit and freezes. When this occurs, the computer may be unresponsive and even shut down. Similarly, if the brain is constantly receiving inputs without a mechanism to monitor and regulate them, it can cause issues, leading to burnout if others continue to demand more from the individual.

Why has no-one ever told me this before?

I have a deep interest in neurodiversity and I am a registered psychologist with a doctorate in clinical psychology and neuropsychology. I am neurodivergent and have been through this myself. Through my research, I have also discovered that the lived experiences of neurodivergent individuals are often neglected in studies related to their health. This neglect leads to a dismissal of their experiences and can result in further neurodivergent trauma. On my website, I have provided information and resources to raise awareness of this medical neglect of neurodivergent individuals.

What to do:

1. Identify well-being

To begin, it is important to create a list of indicators that signal a person is feeling well-regulated and those that suggest they are not. As a guide, I will provide some suggestions.

2. Developing a Response Plan

The next step is to create a decision tree for responding to a situation where the person appears to be in distress. I will provide an example for reference.

3. Enact Specific Plan

Once you have a better understanding of their behaviour, you can develop a tailored plan for specific actions or reactions. For instance, I have a plan in place for managing my triggers related to trauma. Similarly, you may want to prepare a plan for handling specific situations

Time and understanding is required for moving through burnout.

Identifying wellbeing

* This person’s experience of being dysregulated is re-traumatising

1. Developing a Response Plan

Note, this can be modified depending on your circumstances.

If the person states a need/makes a request at any time, try your best to do this.

2. Make a specific plan for different situations.

Always involve the neurodivergent person in this plan.

Example: Calm down plan

1. Ask if I need my calm-down plan
2. Stop talking about whatever you/we were talking about
3. Wrap me in a blanket (*ask first)
4. Encourage me to get comfortable/guide me to a safe space (e.g., not near any walls or furniture)
5. Get a plushie/fidget/soothing object
6. Allow crying and emotional expression
7. Ask if I want to be touched before touching me
8. Give me recovery time

Thank you for helping neurodivergent people recover