Struggling with Severe Autistic Burnout: Need Tips to Get Better

I'm so burnt out right now, too. I feel so much guilt around not being able to keep going like everyone else. I'm showing up to my job less, and when I do, I've barely got any energy. I'm sorry you're burnt out too. It's hell. Best advice I've got from the internet is to write out all the things you do during the week. How many work hours, how many chores, face to face social hours, then see where you cut things out. I'm trying to reduce work hours because that's contributing to my burnout. My chores have already suffered. I barely do anything but lay in bed and color pictures.

My treatment providers are all recommending that I quit my job to focus on school because my burnout is so severe. But I have such a fear of disappointing others that I feel like I can’t quit (plus financial stress).

I struggle with this every few days. I am still working on learning how to deal with it in a healthy way without burning out more. Hopefully you feel better soon.

To start, for the first time since they started, I think Alike's auto-answer is actually pretty good. Next, the professionals you've seen are probably hesitant to help because until they have a guess at the root of the problem, any suggestions have the potential to cause more harm than good. Now here's my last idea, based on my personal experience. Sometimes I don't feel like there's anything to talk about because I'm having a relatively good week. So I talk to my therapist about something else--my pets' antics, the TV shows I'm watching, the books I'm reading. It almost always feeds into something I need to talk about that I didn't realize was there. Talk about anything. I know you said you've been going nonverbal more, but try. Talk about a current hyperfixation if you have one right now. If you have something you used to enjoy doing but don't anymore, try talking about it and see if any enthusiasm comes back. Talk about what the weather has been like/the forecast if that's what it takes to start talking. Starting is usually the hardest part for me. And remember: they are there for you, not the other way around. Start by focusing on what you want and/or can talk about, not what you think they want to hear about. It is their responsibility to meet you where you are. If they aren't willing to do that, you need to at least consider finding someone who will. This is about you, not them. Stay strong, we're rooting for you!