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Anxious and Tired: Struggling with Autistic Burnout

MatchaBunn

703d

Does anyone else start to feel anxious when you are fatigued and/or need a nap? Some background: I realized that my best schedule for recovery from autistic burnout involves a midday nap. Unfortunately, my current work schedule does not line up with that. So, even though I am taking a stimulant for ADHD, it wears off right before my shift, and I end up getting nervous about literally falling asleep at work. I wish there was a better word for the type of tired it is, but I get to the point where I have nothing left and my body will shut down or dissociate.

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9

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Anxiety (Including GAD)

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

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    • Magpi

      698d

      I have two types of fatigue anxiety. 1) the legitimate fear that I won't be functioning well and there will be an accident of some kind. 2) The ADHD undefined restlessness of understimulation combined with the "I should be working at all times or I'm failing" mentality I grew up with. The first I am working on addressing (driving less, cooking when I'm able to and just reheating leftover, learning to recognize my fatigue earlier babs take smaller breaks so I don't burn out so fast. Etc.) The second I'm trying to teach myself to view rest as productive and find things I can do that stimulate me in the way I need but don't overstimulate me. All of that to say. We live in a world built around constant productivity and neurotypical abled standards and limits. So it's natural to feel anxious about how that culture and it's expectations impact you.

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    • Magpi

      698d

      I have two types of fatigue anxiety. 1) the legitimate fear that I won't be functioning well and there will be an accident of some kind. 2) The ADHD undefined restlessness of understimulation combined with the "I should be working at all times or I'm failing" mentality I grew up with. The first I am working on addressing (driving less, cooking when I'm able to and just reheating leftover, learning to recognize my fatigue earlier babs take smaller breaks so I don't burn out so fast. Etc.) The second I'm trying to teach myself to view rest as productive and find things I can do that stimulate me in the way I need but don't overstimulate me. All of that to say. We live in a world built around constant productivity and neurotypical abled standards and limits. So it's natural to feel anxious about how that culture and it's expectations impact you.

      1

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    • Kira_Elyse

      700d

      I don’t deal with autistic burnout, but I do take a stimulant for my CFS/idiopathic hypersomnia. I used to take Ritalin but it always used to wear off way too fast. I switched to Concerta which is the long acting version. Are you on a short acting medication like Ritalin or adderal, or are you on Concerta or Vivance? I found that switch to be very helpful- it doesn’t last all day but gets me a lot farther than the short acting drugs.

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      • MatchaBunn

        700d

        @Kira_Elyse I’m on a long-acting form of Adderall, rebranded as Mydayis. It’s supposed to last for 14 hours, but I’m consistently getting only about 3 or 4 workable hours from it.

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        • Kira_Elyse

          700d

          @MatchaBunn do you feel like after it wears off you are more fatigued than before? That happens with me and I don’t know if it’s the fact that I’ve been exerting myself or if it’s the medication.

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        • Kira_Elyse

          700d

          @MatchaBunn ugh, I’m sorry. I feel like I get like 6ish even though it’s supposed to be “24 hours”. The short acting one gave me like 30 minutes max.

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    • Mirmaid

      702d

      Im glad to hear someone describe the fatigue dissociation. I get tired when Im out and i stead of going home, i feel so dissociated and overwhelmed at yhe idea of chnaging environments and stimus of driving I kind of get stuck but then vet more tired or hungry until I force muself home feeling horrible and crashing so bad. No one understand because I dont think they experience fatigue that make you feel dissociated

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      • MatchaBunn

        700d

        @Mirmaid it’s definitely difficult to get the inertia to change environments, I understand. I’m thankful to know I’m not alone in this, at least.

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    • MissLucy_101719

      702d

      This happens to me all the time. My family always says I need to get my mid-afternoon nap to stay functional. If I don't I become irritable and panicky

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      Reply

☝ This content is generated by our users and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult with your physician before making any medical decision

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