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

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Clarey, M. M., Ireland, M. J., Abel, S., & Brownlow, C. (2026). Beyond Exhaustion: Shame, Identity Disruption, and Functional Collapse in Autistic Burnout. Autism, 30(6), 1519-1531. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613261444797

Publication date: 11 May 2026 Added to AutiHub: 17 Oct 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
Publisher source (DOI) OpenAlex source

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Authors

Publication authors
4
Autistic authors reported by the publication
Number not specified
  1. Megan M. Clarey
  2. Michael J. Ireland
  3. Susan Abel
  4. Charlotte Brownlow

Abstract

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 Abstract Autistic 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.

Bibliography cited by this reference

Cited references are imported from external metadata sources when they are available. The list may be partial.

Cited bibliography overview

These indicators describe the bibliography cited by this publication. An author name is counted each time it appears in one cited reference, so the same person can be counted more than once. Names not yet linked to an author already present in AutiHub are treated as unknown, not as non-autistic. Last computed: 29 Oct 2026 01:01.

Cited references
23
With a DOI
21
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
2
6 / 23 (26.1%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
1 / 23 (4.3%)
References with detected author names
22 / 23 (95.7%)
Without detected author names
1
Without a structured title
1
Without a stable identifier
2
References with raw author names still to review
1
References with external metadata lookup issues
0
These indicators apply to cited references displayed on this page, after technical duplicates have been merged. A reference without a DOI can still support author statistics when a title and author names are available.
Author names detected in the cited bibliography
79
From DOI or external metadata
79
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
1
51 / 79 (64.6%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 28 / 79 (35.4%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
10 / 79 (12.7%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 10 / 51 (19.6%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 9 / 73 (12.3%).
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