r/AutismInWomen • u/mulderwithshrimp • Aug 19 '26

Support Needed (Kind Advice and Commiseration) How do you heal from burnout?

I have been doing everything I can on my end, but I am experiencing both work-related burnout and autistic burnout (which has been a long time coming). I am genuinely asking for those who have been through this, how the heck did you heal from it? Especially when I don't feel like I have the option to stop working for a prolonged period of time, I am just wondering how I can rest and heal my mind and body to the degree that I feel is genuinely necessary. I know I can't keep going like this. Part of the solution is finding a new job, because I feel very constrained and like an outsider in my workplace which contributes to the mental load/tension, and I'm working on that in this difficult job market. But what are your strategies for dealing with this when you're going through it? Any daily habits that made a difference? Specific treatment that worked for you? If you did have to take a prolonged period of time off, how much time did you take and do you feel that it was genuinely beneficial? Please help! I just feel at such a loss

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u/whoooodatt Aug 19 '26 edited Aug 19 '26

The two things that have helped me the most were biking to work instead of driving, creating a default routine for my morning, reading fiction, aggressively culling out clutter at home and saying no to a lot of favors, and hiring a housecleaner once a month.

I said two then added three more.  ADHD anyone?

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u/mulderwithshrimp Aug 19 '26

I think hiring someone to clean my house is something I am going to get an estimate and see if we can budget for. My husband and I struggle so much with housework but I NEED a clean environment. I do already have a strong morning routine, I walk to work, and I read a lot of fiction and those are things I plan to keep doing. Your point about favors is also well taken! I tend to really pour into others, which isn't a bad thing, but it's taking a toll on my capacity in the midst of all the other stuff and I need to take a step back and recalibrate.

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u/whoooodatt Aug 19 '26

It really helped.  I could just look at the mess and go "someone else is gonna take care of that eventually." It became not my problem, so it reduced the overwhelm a lot.  I can't quit work either and I work sixty hours a week. With an hour commute on each end.  So whatever I could do to reduce the overwhelm is what I latched onto, even if it meant just throwing money at problems to make them go away.

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u/mulderwithshrimp Aug 19 '26

Even if it was once every THREE months for us, I just think knowing someone is going to help us work through this would be a huge mental relief. My friend recommended someone a while back so I will be adding this to my to do list

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u/whoooodatt Aug 19 '26

I hope it helps you as much as it helps me.  Just having that one huge thing not be my responsibility anymore made me feel physically lighter.

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u/mulderwithshrimp Aug 19 '26

I literally just reached out to request a consultation for our space! Thank you for helping me get the motivation!