Beyond Exhaustion: Shame, Identity Disruption, and Functional Collapse in Autistic Burnout

Autistic burnout is typically defined as chronic exhaustion with functional impacts on everyday life. It appears common across work, study, and relationships, yet its emotional and relational dimensions remain underexamined. To document lived experiences of autistic burnout among autistic adults and to identify emotional and relational processes (e.g. shame and masking) that may shape onset, maintenance, and recovery. Eleven autistic adults participated in semi-structured interviews or written responses conducted online between July 2023 and November 2024. Data were analysed using template analysis, combining a priori codes from prior research with inductive coding. Participants described profound exhaustion, sensory overload, and executive dysfunction that disrupted daily life. A prominent emergent theme was shame, which shaped interpretations of functional limits, masking efforts, and help-seeking. Many reported dual-masking, concealing both autistic traits and signs of burnout, which intensified strain, delayed recognition, and undermined recovery. Withdrawal and "gentle re-engagement" through low-demand, people-adjacent activities were described as recovery strategies. Autistic burnout involves physical and cognitive challenges alongside relational and emotional processes that can precipitate and sustain it and complicate recovery. Shame and masking shape how burnout is interpreted and disclosed, underscoring the need for shame-aware, low-demand supports.Lay AbstractAutistic burnout is a period of overwhelming exhaustion and reduced ability to cope with everyday life. Although autistic people have spoken about burnout for many years, there is still little research describing what it actually feels like. In this study, 11 autistic adults shared their experiences of burnout through online interviews or written responses. We analysed their words to look for common patterns and individual differences. Participants described extreme tiredness, difficulty starting and completing everyday tasks, and increased sensitivity to noise, light, or smells. Many withdrew from friends, family, or work to protect their limited energy. A key pattern was shame, feeling embarrassed, inadequate, or like a burden, which shaped how people made sense of their burnout and whether they felt able to ask for help. Several described "dual-masking," meaning they hid both their autistic traits and the signs of burnout itself. This added pressure often made burnout last longer and delayed access to support. Recovery was often slow. Gentle steps, such as spending quiet time near others without having to talk ("people-adjacent" activities), helped them reconnect without pressure. These findings suggest that supportive environments, where autistic people feel safe to be themselves, may reduce the impact and length of burnout episodes.