Wait till you are 72 like me I think I deal with it better at older age but 100 miles per hour at 7 yrs old till 2001 after first back operation that slowed me down until my late diagnosis then I slowed down more watching Autistic guy really educated me along with autism group therapy you should also know where your at on the spectrum and add that to your Autism good luck
THIS. All of this. What's really stunning is how, no matter what condition we are in, we have to manage the NT's perception of us just to survive. Life doesn't just stop for us to recharge, unless we're ready to just give up everything and end up in a facility.
And a facility that can do nothing for us but put us in an environment that is not good for us. At least, not for me for sure. I don't need to be locked up, I don't need the talk therapy groups. They don't offer anything I need.
I’m living it at the moment, I knew it was a thing but I just didn’t know the word for it. My room’s a mess, I’m feeling fucked and I keep progressively fucking up more things about my job.
@@falcon5751that sounds really tough, I'm sorry for your struggle. I hope you find a nice way of coping, it doesn't have to be big. If you don't mind me asking, what's your coping mechanism now?
Thank you, Orion. The year I discovered my autism, my husband lost his job and our savings disappeared fast. My three University kids took upon them the responsibility to provide. My guilt for being unable to work ( I left 2 jobs after burnout), haunted me all year. My minimal routines help me stay sane, but I cry profusely at every added hurdle. My husband got a new job this month, which will ease my kids' load. My husband says that my job is the most important in the house, I keep everybody regulated (even when I am not). But next year is going to be better, I plan on getting my diagnosis ( I'm 52) and starting to organize my life better.
As someone with autism, who functions better when working together with people who understand my needs, I cannot emphasize enough the value you are providing to your family as the one who helps keep them regulated. Please remember this any time you feel you aren't doing enough to help. Yes, providing money to the family has value. As the saying goes, there are some things money can't buy, and you are providing what money cannot buy.
This is a very important video for me, Orion. Thank you! Autistic Burnout checks the boxes. My work counselor said to me, "you have to tell what you need!" But that's the problem. For 4X years I have been adapting, normalizing, things are how they are and if I find it hard or draining or whatever, tough cookies; this is how 'everybody does it' and I just have to swallow hard and struggle and get used to it or fake it till I drop or drown. This is my automatic pilot. I don't think about my needs!!! I don't even know WHAT I need. I just accept everything without a single thought if it could even BE any different to suit 'me' better. Especially with unfamiliar situations!
"make sure of all things, hold fast to what is fine"! (1Thess.5 :21, the Bible) that might sound easier said than done..... But just try and find one thing to start that seems a' fine' thing to you, then' hold fast to' it. Just a small - start. I'm autistic.... Give it a try, nothing to loose?
It's like workplaces want the kudos of including people with disabilities without the actual inconvenience (or even just stepping away from the norm) of accommodating a disabled person. If they must accommodate a disabled person I suspect they'd much rather put in a ramp for a wheelchair than allow an autistic person to work from home or have the quiet office, despite the fact that the latter are actually cheaper.
This is one of the best videos on burnout and regression I've seen, it lines up with my lived experiences almost exactly. One thing I think could have been spelled out better is that once you've hit skill regression you may permanently no longer be able to do some things that you previously managed, or at least not at the same level. For example in prior jobs part of my job was answering phones & calling clients. I pushed myself even though it was uncomfortable and it progressively became more difficult over the 20 years I did work. After my final major burnout and skill regression I often have a LOT of difficulty making required phone calls or answering the phone now in my personal life. It's been a few years of working on it and I can sometimes make and answer calls but frequently I need help.
I'm late-diagnosed (within the last year) and learning that I've been in autistic burnout for eight years. I've been trying to climb out of it this whole time using the wrong mindset and tools. (I'm in the US, so professional help is largely inaccessible.) Thank you so much for this video, Orion. I would love for more autistic content creators to talk about regression and burnout recovery.
You always make me feel like my experiences are normal and nothing to be ashamed about. Thank you for providing so much useful information and sharing your wonderful personality with all of us.
Same, just a couple decades earlier. Went to Drs to rule out physiological causes first because so many things were so glaringly wrong. But I could barely speak, so didn't manage to express myself with any kind of cohesion & couldn't keep up with MH services, so finally figured it out myself. (Despite my family suspecting for years. Denial is powerful). Scary times when you feel like your brain & body are betraying you. I hope you're doing ok & have some comforts X
"Formally Diagnosed" four years ago at 60. Burnout and autistic regression brought serious consequences throughout my life. Grateful to know that I've never been all of the things I'd been labeled as...
Man you really saved me with this video. Im a first time watcher and it feels like divine intervention when i scrolled upon your upload in my feed. I have been in this regression for a couple months now and now that i see it for what it is, time to clean up house!!!
Autism regression is what led to my diagnosis of autism. The worse burn out of my life. I am currently in rebuild mode. One super simple step at a time.
Evidently AuDHDistics may find meditation challenging so, as a means of cultivating one's interoception, I recommend "low-effort" physical activities like walking, hiking, and bicycling. Meditation is the sort of activity that rewards consistent routine practice so it's not great in a pinch; whereas the aforementioned activities are often familiar enough that we can do them relatively unconsciously and, over a sustained period of at least 20 minutes, it increases one's bodily awareness and thereby hones interoception skills. This is one of the key things that, along with daily journaling, has made processing my late diagnosis a fairly intuitive process, e.g. the awareness that burnout recovery absolutely cannot be forced and requires a willingness to accept that low, low energy state.
People might also find activities like spinning yarn (either on a spinning wheel or a spindle) or practising playing open strings - yes, just open strings for that 20 minutes plus, good forms of meditation. When my lawn mower's working (it needs serviced) I find cutting the grass can also be a good form of meditation. Making cordage (see Loop-and-Twist: an Ancient Form of Nalbinding by Sally Pointer, ua-cam.com/video/Gr43b95n3n0/v-deo.html ) might also be a good form of physical meditation. I can't do regular meditation for toffee nuts but I enjoy these sorts of things that are fairly meditative forms of stimming.
I also fail on meditation because my brain cant shut up. It gives me the feeling I cant control my thoughts. What helps me is 1. talking a walk outside, especially in the nature and focusing on the birds singing or spotting flowers 2. Drawing and coloring. I love to draw but the process of coloring my pictures is absolutely relaxing for me. I just concentrate on which colors to use etc. and it sooo nice.
Thanks Orion! I turned 70 last month and only learned I was autistic a couple years ago. I really needed this video right now as I am definitely experiencing this. Thank you for all you do. 🙏🏼
Seeing fellow autists of my grandparents age commenting on UA-cam makes me smile so much. It makes me feel if I'm fortunate enough to make it to my 70s I can look forward to being cool, up-to-date with technology, actively working on self discovery and growth. I don't see many other neurotypicals like this. You guys rock.
24:10 That's why role-playing games (like D&D) are so good and de-stressing, just like you said in another video, because there are no winners and losers.
I was diagnosed a week ago and it wasn’t a huge surprise, feel relieved! My challenge now is that I’m struggling to mask, which I suppose would be considered ‘regression’ from the perspective of NTs. I will say ‘no’ with little to no hesitation, even at work. I’m now processing the idea of self disclosure at work to make things easier for me. It’s a toxic work environment but it also paid for my diagnosis and for therapy. It’s a tricky place to navigate.
I have two sons with Autistic Spectrum. My youngest son with Autistic Spectrum would get a fever from fatigue of trying to function in our city school with an IEP and harassment! He would have to rest for 3 days absent from school from burnout! Doctors wrote letters to the school they harassed us; but we ended up leaving and we enrolled both sons in an accredible Online school from 8th grade until graduation! Best Ever!!! I was their learning coach; they both graduated on Dean's List in their special education curriculums!!
@@kawag6356 menopause is how I found out I had autism - it just made it impossible to mask anymore.....I just thought all these things were normal for 50 years....sounds stupid but.....the doctors said it's quite common
@@kawag6356: I am probably an outlier but for me menopause was easy as. While I don't think anyone likes such a concrete reminder of the aging process, not menstruating any more was _such a relief._ No more worries about how much it was going to hurt _this_ month, or if I was suddenly going to bleed through, etc. Menarche and then menstruation were both really shitty for me, I felt I deserved an easy menopause! I understand it can be very different for quite a lot of other people but the reason I'm posting this is to let you know that it might not be as bad as you think, you might be one of the lucky ones. For your sake, I hope you are.
@My mother’s was horrible, and she is autistic too, that’s what scares me. I have already tried HRT for severe night sweats and nothing helped, those screwed me up even more, I had a terrible doctor. I actually figured out the night sweats are from my nervous system, I have pots, Heds, and lifelong problems with blood pressure and temperature control.
Thank you so much Orion. I have been thinking and experiencing this so much lately. My doctor thinks I'm getting MS because she doesn't know anything about ASD. My Therapist didn't understand what I meant because I couldn't explain it properly. I just wanted to know if I was going backwards. I feel so low and alone. Thank you for explaining 🙏
You are not alone!!! We live it too!!! I really think Elon Musk would understand this podcast too... no joke!!! We have to give ourselves what we need and embrace our incredible uniqueness, believing in ourselves so we can create our ideas!!! I hope we are all learning to love ourselves more daily!!! Celebrate because we're not like the neurotypicals and we were born with different assignments!!! Everyone has a purpose here under God... Peace, love and happiness. Be kind to yourself 😊❤️🙏
Hi. Ask an Endocrinologist or your family doctor to check "all 3 panels of your Thyroid Functioning with a blood test" just to rule out a hypo thyroid issue as well. I have primary progressive Multiple Sclerosis, diagnosed in my late forties!* I have 2 sons with Autistic Spectrum and their deceased father (died of colo-rectal cancer) he had Asperger's! FYI; A neurologist doctor could order a brain and full spine MRI filma to rule out MS lesions. **Ask for a Large Bore MRI Machine if you have closterphobia and can't tolerate tight spaces, it's a more comfortable MRI !!! Been there!!! *Do you have physical symptoms of MS like numbness, neuropathy, loss of bladder function, drop foot, vision issues (optic neuritis?); trouble walking? I have Attention Deficit Disorder too with many sensory issues! We are all Autistic Spectrum in our home! Just keep up with your family doctor and explain it or take someone close to you who can explain your concerns! You could ask for a referral to a neurologist for a brain and full spine MRI Only with some blood tests! **Most people with MS are also Vitamin D deficient found by a blood test. Some issues can be caused from immune responses and low dose steroids like Prednisone help!!!*. The best way to rule out MS is by getting a brain and full spine MRI in a Large Bore MRI Machine to see if any MS lesions show up in your films. I just wanted to share this info here. I feel we Autistic people are also educating everyone who works in healthcare, it's True!!! Hey, I've already fired a few arrogant cold greedy doctors and 2 neurologists in 12 years! There are good and bad doctors as you know so do your homework and don't be afraid to speak up, write your concerns or have an advocate close to you help you communicate with your doctor, if needed! *Don't let anyone sign as your Power Of Attorney unless needed! Some asshole forged their name as my POA and blocked me from getting a RX filled for a wheelchair when both my legs went paralyzed after one full dose of Ocrevus infusion MS medicine and my neurologist didn't care she kept saying I had to come back every 6 months for 5 hour Ocrevus MS medicine infusions! A year later it caused more infections like Sepsis and Cellulitis, and bone marrow edema!!! I had to stop treatment with Ocrevus myself and my neurologist and Cleveland Clinic retaliated and are blocking me from further medical treatment there because their Ocrevus almost killed me!!! Three years later the same Sepsis infection returned though I quit Ocrevus infusions after a year in 2019; 3 months in hospital 2022. I made it back home to continue living with my adult disabled sons who have Autistic Spectrum!!! We modified, got security cameras; no real help from my parents and adult sisters and cousins!!? When I needed to use a wheelchair they all ghosted us, except for a few true friends! Weird!* We're creating our own way of living this life!!! Best to you and all who read this!!!
You could try to Write down (or Voice Record*) your concerns Before you go see your doctor and take 2 written copies with you, one for you and another copy for your doctor to read during your appointment.*** It helps! Finding skills to Advocate is challenging!! Our healthcare insurance advocates were a waste of payroll, no help so we fired them and reported to the Quality Control and Civil Rights Departments! ☺️
Had same thing happen. Ended up getting $3500 in scans resulting in no diagnossis and prescribing anti seizure meds which I refuse as its black tape over a check engine light. Engineering group recomended some nootropics which make life better.
My gosh….some days are slightly more tolerable than others. I totally understand. Articulating thoughts is a huge issue I’m having currently and my executive functioning has been battered. I’m just a floppy mess right now. Alone is the only way I am recovering. Thank you for this video.
Thank you. I needed to hear this right now. In a world full of neurotypicals it's really hard to give yourself the permission to listen to your needs, even if they are actual needs that need to be met.
I believe I'm going through burnout now. This has been the year of exposure therapy. My path to getting a proper diagnosis and support hasn't worked out that well, leaving me homeless. It's pretty obvious that my dr doesn't have any clue on what to do. I keep asking when am I going to get a neuropsych evolution or take dsm. I don't get answers. Thankfully I have so many people who believe in me and support what I do so now I have to show what can be done when we have proper support with the things i struggle with so i can do what I am good at.My goal is to be organized in my belongings, my thoughts and my actions.
Thank you for making a video on this! I only became aware of the term "autistic regression" last month, and it's definitely accurate to what I'm experiencing right now. I think it started during the pandemic, where I was forced to stay home for two months. Even though I was stressed about not being able to work, those two months were the happiest months I've had in a very long time, because I didn't have to mask anymore. Going back to work was devastating on me, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Not long after going back, I was jobless for another nine months and I completely forgot how to "human". To this day, I'm still not the same. I can mask for work, but that's it. I don't go out hardly at all anymore unless it's with my best friend, and even then, I have limits. Autistic regression seems to have become my new normal and just the thought of playing the character I once was gives me such bad anxiety.
The demand avoidance! I could not understand why my immediate reaction to being asked to do something was NO! Then a couple minutes later, it could be a different response! Thank you for this!
I always felt like I was different from most of the people around me. Only really specific people did I feel like they kind of understood me. I believe I learn masking very early and it became kind of a natural part of who I was. Better after a lot of really bad choices and having to face the consequences of those choices, I simplified my perception and stripped my character down to its most basic parts. That's when I decided that I was probably autistic. I won't ever try to mask and go back to it again. Having to cope with it, almost cost me my life.
31:45. Thanks Orion. I've been struggling a lot lately and had those exact thoughts about myself. Thank you for reminding me what is real and that I'm not worthless.
Thank you, Orion. Tears are flowing freely right now. 😢 You explain it so well. ❤ I will share this video wth my best friend to help him gain a deeper understanding of this, so he knows it when it happens ! ❤❤❤❤❤ The only difference is that I do not understand loneliness... I have never felt lonely in my life. I simply don't have that in my bag of emotions. Put me in a cave for 5 years, Iike a true troglodyte: there will be no loneliness, I will emerge from that cave perfectly fine. If everyone suddenly vaporates from earth, except for me, I won't feel lonely... yes, I'll miss my mom and my best friend and his kids deeply, but I truly believe that personally, I would be fine... 😅
Thank you so much for talking with us. This subject has been heavy on my mind this week. Sometimes I wish I were like everyone else and was good at conversation. I wonder what people talk about when they are with their friends or loved ones. There always seems to be a subject I don't really want to talk about and I get burnt out by caring and listening anyway. I worry when I don't care anymore. That' a bad sign but I've been depressed before and I realize that it won't last forever. Thank you for being a virtual friend to me. Someone I feel like I know, and I like to listen to when I need someone. Thank you.
Extra agree with the low demand passions. Video games for me can be really refreshing, but if I'm really out of sorts certain tasks in video games can be too much and have the opposite effect. In those times I've learned to accept just doing something easier at that time.
I’m so glad I found ur channel. Ur video on burnout. And now this video have really helped me come to terms with what has happened to me. I experienced burnout almost 5 years ago. I’ve still not recovered. About 4 years ago I was diagnosed with ADHD, there are so many traits of autism I resonate with too. My life has changed 100%.. I’ve gone from being on the go 24/7 to a burnout shell of a person. My senses and nervous system are on sooooo sensitive now. And I’m chronically exhausted. I also have CPTSD. I moved from the city to an isolated off grid property in rural Western Australia. Thank you a million times 🙏
The title of this video really struck me as apropos to my situation. I'm not diagnosed. I'm 63 years old and retired. I never thought of myself as autistic although I've always felt that I didn't quite belong and I always had to manage myself to fit in with others. My daughter recently told me that she thinks that both she and I are autistic. This was like looking back over my life with corrective lenses when I'd always been short sighted. Since I've retired from work and there are no more demands on me to conform to the expectations of others, I've kind of lapsed into a hermit like existence. If not for the fact that my brother came to live with me when his marriage ended, I'd barely see anyone from month to month. I try not to interact with my brother either as his mental problems affect me negatively. Regression seems just like the right word to describe what I'm experiencing and I'm not sure that I care. I think I'm quite OK with it.
5:45 I think "non-autistic burn-out" is tied to having too much stress placed upon you, often primarily at work, so that even though you may have high flood walls, eventually the huge waves of a rising ocean spill over. I was suffering from near total burn-out a few years back. The difference I think was that for me as an autistic person to the burn-out of a neurotypical person, was in part caused by the enormous stress at work - a stress my supervisors and managers would gladly compile because they knew I never complained but just worked harder - but much more by my having to coexist with my workmates as well as socialise with them. The managers' resolution to lift stress was to go on a break, something which would only augment it a hundredfold because of the social situation and because I knew that upon my return I would still have to resolve an issue that would have begun before the break, the potential of resolution for which would be on my mind as I had the harder than work work of socialising with my workmates. Also, they tried to force me to use a technique for work which was highly inefficient for me personally, for everyone else and the workplace as a whole. I disobeyed them. This meant I had to be constantly fearful of their reproaches while producing excellent results. This was a call centre and I remember one month of particularly high inbound call volumes for this home electronics and white goods manufacturer, when I took around half of the calls for the call centre as a whole and still met all my targets as regards customer satisfaction. I could never get a promotion because I had sort of made myself an enemy with management for not following their stupid rules and especially because I hardly spent any time at all socialising with the managers and supervisors as they had their extended breaks smoking outside the back door. At another place of work my manager said I should come into work (we did a lot remotely during COVID-19) to draw strength from my workmates when the effect was the exact opposite. My main point is that the social stress at work for us autists is even much worse than the stress of the work generally, but as autists we have to experience both, whereas neurotypical people generally experience the one and perhaps in some instances can even draw strength or destress from the other.
My work decided one way they would celebrate an anniversary was to take all the employees to a baseball game. On the surface it sounds great. But they planned it for midweek and we couldn't bring family members. So anyone with kids had to make sure they got fed and we didn't necessarily have designated drivers. For us autistic people we had to spend all day masking for these people then were expected to continue to do so for several more hours without a safe person around. I went out to dinner with my dad and then went home to bed.
@@bethenecampbell6463 ❤️ I would have been exhausted too. The question is: How much obligation do we have to indulge the neuro-typicals? You at least had a logical motive in that you wanted to mask in order to "be socially acceptable" and keep your job and your livelihood, I presume. I am currently in a political party because I believe in change. I have noticed that the party doesn't want to win and is just a club for mutual internal admiration, which appears to be the case for many neuro-typical groups, political and otherwise. I am seriously considering leaving, because I am no longer a masochist.
Thanks for validating many concepts I have worked out for myself. The balance between avoiding people and loneliness is one I really struggle with - I mask very little and that means I have no friends or social life, which means I get very lonely but avoid the problems of being drained by masking. Oh the balance! Perhaps one day I'll get it!
Thanks so much for doing this video, Orion. I wish I couild like it more then once! I had what now seems an autistic burnout at 40, but diagnosed as chronic fatigue syndrome at the time. Apparently I''d been masking so 'well' that they didn't pick up that I was autistic for another 20 years.
im a neurodivergent person who is self-diagnosed. i struggle everyday and yet I feel misunderstood by some people including my dad. I'm also transgender.
We are sharing your podcast of valuable information with others!!! Great job!!! ***People on the Autistic Spectrum need support, rest to recharge, modifications, and a pace that works for them!!! My sons with Autistic Spectrum are also sharing this with their friends online as well; Thank You Dearly!!! Sandi, Al and Matthew in Ohio, USA 💜
Relate... what a whirlwind of a year it’s been for me, especially when one is in the thick of figuring ones self out. Just gotta say, I feel this & thank you. There’s something genuinely comforting about feeling that little spark of connection through the tangled mess of the internet. But man, trying to swap it out for real human contact? That’s a tall order.
Quite often it takes me several attempts to put all the right words in the right order; not sure if this is to do with Autism, but I lose the ability to not only spell, but also count.
I am definitely having Autistic burnout from everything you described, but I can't tell if I'm masking or not, maybe I started masking so long ago that it became normal for me and I don't even realize I'm doing it and because of that, I can't tell if that's the problem for me. To be honest, people expect a lot from me, I feel used and abused by most of the people in my life closest to me. I have been manipulated by most people in my life closest to me. I don't know anyone in my circle that aren't narcissists to some degree, so they don't care how drained I am and why things are much harder for me than they used to be. That in itself make the burnout worst, the lack of understanding and support. I am overwhelmed, one bad misfortune after another and I went from struggling and stressing every month, to struggling and stressing every week, to struggling and stressing every day now. Few people know my story, one day I hope to share it with the world to give others perspective and understanding, but the few people that know my story, they don't really care, or it is mentally draining to them, so I just try to carry my weight, but the weight gets bigger and bigger and I'm so tired, mentally and physically. In other words, I went through a lot of misfortunes one after another and I have to deal with all of them and they're so much and while trying to heal from one thing, I get another misfortune on top of it and while I'm trying to find time to improve my mental health, it is always interrupted by people that need me to help them because they do not have the means to help themselves, and it's not that I don't want to help, I'm just tired and if I say know, they manipulate me into feeling bad, when instead, they should respect how I'm feeling and give me the breather I need. So not only does the misfortunes keep happening weekly, but they're piling up, while I'm still trying to heal from the previous misfortunes while at the same dealing with trying to solve everyone else's problems when I can't even solve my own because I'm either too tired or nobody lets me when I have the time I need. This cycle has gone on for as long as I can remember at this point, I have a responsibility as a single father too. I have to pay Child Support, but my mental health has made it difficult for me to find work and I messed up my back, so doing physical work is difficult, so I am not really making income and can't afford Child Support, but I am very involved in my children's lives. I am the one that takes them to and from Doctor's appointments, I schedule the appointments, I take them out of the house for 10 hours every weekend, I attend their parent teacher conferences and am part of everything related to their schooling, I do their laundry, and I do grocery shopping for them. Now, these are things I do on my own, their mother (whom they currently live with, me and her are no longer together) doesn't do any of these things. Her washer and dryer are broken, so I have to take the clothes to the laundromat because she doesn't drive, nor have a driver's license, nor does she even know how to drive. She doesn't do the school or doctor stuff because of anxiety or something, she doesn't take them out or spend any quality time with them for reasons I don't understand, so I do these things. Don't get me wrong, I love doing these things for my kids, I'm not complaining, but she put me on Child Support like I'm some kind of dead beat. I see and talk to my kids every day, if not in person, through video calling. But if I'm going to be on Child Support, then I need to earn income and to earn income, I need to work, how can I have time to work, if I'm doing all of these things for the kids that she's not helping me with? And I told Department of Revenue this and they don't care. I applied for disability 3 years ago, 2 years after trying before and I was denied, so I appealed it and it's been over a year since then and the case is still open, so I can't financially sustain myself because it is difficult for me to get a job and because DOR thinks I'm not disabled enough, so now I am drowning in debt, credit score took a nose dive, my car was repossessed and now I'm on Child Support. Not only am I doing a lot for my kids, but I am regularly seeing doctors. Chiropractor twice a week, Therapist once a week, Psychiatrist every few months, so that is more time that takes me away from working normal hours and then you have everyone's needs. They don't have a car or their car is broken, so they need me to take them somewhere (my brother gave me a car after mine was repossessed), they need me to drive them places or need me to pick up things for them or they want to hang out right after I have exhausted myself for the day and I just want to be left alone to decompress for a bit, to focus on 1 thing at a time and then they get upset that I don't want to hang out, adding another layer mental strain for wanting to please everyone and make everyone happy.
Thanks Orion Kelly. My 10 y/o daughter has autism and you make me understand her and her struggles a little better every time I watch one of your videos. I must admit, they are a bit heavy on the information side, but the overall message of the video is very strong and so true. I want to add one thing about those burn out periods, or autistic regression as you put it. I have them as well, though they usually won't last longer than a day, 2 days tops. I don't have autism I should add, and I still can be overcome with emotions and come undone. Even us neurotypical people are usually putting on a mask, it's just more natural to us, and even so it wears us down overtime where we need some me time doing our, not making sense to most, nonsense it so often seems. Our comfort food for thought? idk Sometimes my mind thinks up all of these beautiful feelings without attaching the proper words or feelings to it.
Thank you. EXACTLY my experience at almost 68. For ALL the reasons you listed. Even the coping strategies. Close to perfect (typed with a hint of humour). I forgot the other part I wanted to express: The ADHD bits also regress!
Sound and light sensitivity. Also, seams in what was previously "safe clothing." I will actually get red marks on my skin from seams that weren't an issue before.
Red lines from clothes can be MCAS mast cell activation syndrome. The red lines are often called skin writing. Dr Laurence Afrin talks about it in his book "Never Bet Against Occam". But there are many interviews with him here on YT.
I get the red marks from seams, too! I sleep in inside-out clothes to help minimize irritation. So frustrating to wake up itchy and have to go change in the middle of the night!
I said NO to someone today!! Some stranger wanted me to buy him a meal at some restuarant I had never even heard of before - plus it sells my major ALLERGENS!! I told him NO! i dont ever go into restaurants! They are not safe! Heck I get sick outside them from the fumes coming out. Plus tomorrow I go to the allergist for skin prick testing. I have been off my antihistamines (tea) for a whole week now and I am reacting to everything. And feel so tired too. I had cut my finger on Thanksgiving and I took the bandaid off this morning and I thought it was OK but this evening it just started to bleed again. 😢 just from relaxing with a video. Uggh. Just so super reactive now and tons of ear ringing too.
I didn't know tea was an antihistamine! Any particular type you recommend? I've been researching histamine intolerance & neurodivergence & it seems to make a lot of sense with the gut-brain axis, DAO deficiency, seratonin & dopamine. Lots more reading & experimemting to do! (Any non-drowsy antihistamine without lactose would be wonderful for me!) I thought at first you were a little rude saying 'NO!' rather than, 'no thanks' but he was asking YOU to buy him a meal? AND telling you where to eat?? Erm, that's not how invites usually work! Good for you for standing up for yourself!
@@hannahmitchell87 I just looked it up and Telfast doesn't have lactose (in Australia anyway), hopefully they work for you seeing as Zyrtec and Claratyne both do contain lactose (each of them has a different active ingredient that works as an anti hystamine)
I’ve been going through this at the moment Orion. I’ve had a lot of stress in my life and suffer with anxiety which concurrent with my Autism too. Just something simple like finding the energy to go shower after work or cook dinner. I can see me having to lay down and rest to give me enough energy to complete those tasks. I’m imminently moving house with my wife to our first house we’ve bought back in summer. I’ve been renting a flat with an awful drug-dealing anti-social neighbour for the last 18 months. I’m so done with the situation and really cannot wait to move. The house has been getting work done on it so isn’t ready to move in just yet but should be soon. I’m so done at the moment. I’ve been referred to Occupational Therapy for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for my anxiety. Hopefully it helps as my first appointment is soon. Thank you for this video buddy as it’s helped me understand more about what I’m feeling 😊
I don't have a diagnosis but I checked most boxes watching your videos. I thrive when I can lock in a routine. But when there's a change the whole thing crumbles away for a while.
I’m going through autistic regression right now. Everything you say makes sense to me. I got my diagnosis last year at the age of 39. I’ve got a long road ahead of me 😢
Thank you so much Orion for this video! Now I finally understand why I am sometimes completely unable to do simple things. I was getting worried about myself but now thanks to your video I feel a lot better and I will pay more attention to the signs and - try to - relax and chill out more often. Thank you ❤
What is the World supposed to do? Employers want you to do your work. If you don't do your work, others suffer because they have to do your work on top of theirs. You A only see yourselves and have zero thoughts about others
@CordeliaWagner We can bring a lot to the table if we're allowed to work out what interests us, we have work limitations but also have an ability to hyperfocus and work with a tanacity that nuro typical folk struggle with, we have an attention to detail that is uncommon in most people. We view the world differently and this gives us unique problem solving skills. We're very literal, this means that we can only do a job one way, the right way, we will invariably take longer to do a task, but it will be done 100% to the letter, as per the training manual. We all play to our strengths not our weaknesses, not everyone can work in construction, as a carer, as a funeral director, as a computer programmer, and neither should they. A recognition of who we are and what we can do and what we need, will make life in the workpkace easier for us and easier for you. You do you, and I'll do me. Some employers actively now seek out nuro divergent folk, as they've made accommodations in the work place and know we can out work others in certain roles.
This video showed up out of the blue just after I got off the phone with someone explaining that my brain has gone stupid and I don't know what is wrong with me. Autistic Regression. I understand what is wrong now. You cannot possibly know how helpful and timely this video is. I am not coping. It does not mean I am fundamentally flawed. I feel better knowing there is a name for what I am experiencing and it is NORMAL. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
@Orion, Thank you Orion, you are just forkin awesome! You put into words what I can't seem to and I love your heated rants because you aren't just standing up for you but for us all autistic people and I love it!!! Thank you so much!!! ❤️🙏
Thanks so very much for your videos, Orion. They have tremendously improved my understanding of autism, restored my self-esteem, helped me to learn strategies for managing my health and life, and best of all - giving me faith in myself and love for myself...
Sensory input my hearing became so intense I could hear the neighbors in the house next door doing laundry, playing etc. the slightest creak in my own house… beyond bionic hearing triggers the most horrific thoughts What you said about alone time- what I have for alone time is never enough, I’m trying to avoid people places Wondering if I’ll ever be ok enough
*ORION* - THANK YOU so much for this. My husband and two of my adult children are autistic. Trying to help my daughters-in-law navigate their relationships with my children is so difficult when I can't explain what it is their spouses are dealing with. You articulated this SO beautifully! Cheers!
If you're a gamer like myself, and btw gaming is for us adults too, we're allowed to have fun, try the 'sandbox' category of gaming. I play Stardew Valley, Terraria and Minecraft. Stardew has a storyline but all can be played any way you choose. Terraria and Minecraft even have settings to turn on/off enemies so that if you don't feel like beating up bad guys & just want to build and relax, you can do. For me, they're a great way to unplug my brain from the rest of the world and just chill in my own worlds.
Great advice, I love gaming too. I always play the easy mode to enjoy the story and I can really dive into the story and "live" with the characters. I love God of War, Witcher Wild Hunt or Ghost of Tsushima and have fun killing the bad guys ;p
Thank you Orion, as always you are a great help. Pretty sure i am dealing with this at the moment. My year started off with three big events that leveled me. I have been struggling to get back trying my best to get back a routine. Its almost the end of the year and i m at ground zero again. Taking time out. This video helped me identify a lot of things, and realize i am doing all the right things for myself and my mental and physical well being not the well being of others.
Question for all the neurodivergent people in the chat, for someone who’s in a relationship with someone who’s going through this: how can you be supportive? And what would you say to the emotions/experiences of the person who’s on the other side?
Try to encourage them to keep a consistent routine so they have some basic structure and keep their anxiety levels low if possible,my two cents . (Also thanks for being so kind and caring to your neurodivergent spouse)
This is a GREAT segment. Thank you bci can send this to all my closest people. I just learned and am trying to unmask. I've been in burnout and regression for years. This is immensely satisfying to hear this, this. Now I can show them an explanation/ perspective that is thorough for us and them. Ty. This is my life...
Now I have retired, I have experienced this and have had to try and figure it out for myself. This is why I'm glad my daughter got the support I never did.
We've had a demolition & then construction site across the fence for the past five years. Between that & COVID, I became non verbal, hypersensitive & hyper vigilant. It's only in the past month since construction finished that I'm actually remembering who I am & what I'm supposed to do without constant prompting. Oh & the 3 houses that were demolished to build a townhouse development next door? Vacant, having been replaced with 11 townhouses, with no interest from buyers & no sign of the owners who bought off plan before construction was completed. I can't imagine how much worse it would've been without acoustic insulation & double glazed windows (that were helpful, but unable to fully block annoying noise).
I really enjoyed this video subject and your delivery Orion. Thank you so much! I also was laughing at the “just say no” part and how you gleefully slapped a NO! On the screen 😂 because as you said it and as you joked around- I felt that inner jerk joyfully tasting flat out NO’s! Haha. Additionally, wouldn’t these things be good for EVERYONE? I swear I love this channel. No idea about myself, but can relate to much of the burnout, overwhelm, needing time alone, executive function, needing safe place, and just so much. ❤
This was very interesting! I thought my only experience with regression was when my son's speech regressed at 2 and now he's completely nonspeaking, but I think I've experienced this. Great video!
"Oh no I must be having dementia" is ngl how I feel with my current regression - second burnout, pretty severe this time, to the point I am very concerned if that were to happen a third time. My paternal grandma has dementia and sometimes it feels like I behave like her. Thebonly difference is that I went through that already and know it's temporary - it just takes time to heal itself. But my life doesn't allow me to take a break. A good, LONG BREAK where I can partake in my hobbies to rest and recover. It's incredibly hard to explain that to other people - and more importantly, to have them understand. "But you don't look autistic" yes Suzanne, because you're probably mistaking autism and Down Syndrome. Just because my autism isn't visible, doesn't mean it doesn"t exist - basic object permanence theory, something babies can learn but adults seem to forget. I am so tired man. So, so tired. And I don't get help, even when I spell everything out. I just don't get the help I need, it's awful.
Thank you so much for this vid and for not being too serious about it. Its exactly what I needed to hear today as I had no idea this is what is happening to me…❤❤❤ As to saying no, can I suggest two things? 1. There is this game called „Say NO more!”:))) Its super funny and entertaining and you can start to learn how to say no in a virtual environment 😀 2. Use RPG games to test „new personality traits”. What I mean? Say you always play a good guy, a knight in a shiny armor rescuing damsels, Become a sleezy thief, who does what HE wants when HE wants! Believe me its harder then you think even though its just a game environment!!! But in time it will become easier and this can transition to your real daily life. Have a go! See how you like it and if this can help you learn to become someone who fights for you. I hope that can help someone here. Love!
As I watch and relate profoundly over and again every few minutes throughout this much-appreciated video, and you make suggestions and give compassionate encouragement so skillfully in your own particularly talented way, at just the right moments with grace and in your own rhythm, I am wishing I could "Like" this 15,000 times! Its peferctly imperfectly perfect, in the sense that its helpful in all the right ways and imbued with your passion and wisdom, aka hard-fought hard-earned skill and dedicated practice. You're really really good at this. Thank you. I envision sitting down with a new therapist (humongous leap of faith, again, in complete & total long-term burned out, traumatized, grief laden, utterly regressive desperation) to watch this and pause to discuss every few minutes so she may begin to start to grasp some semblance of understanding my world, my complicated insides. Not that I could even imagine communicating that idea to her. Maybe just watching this myself a couple times and taking notes could help me explain myself better next time. ? I swear I've tried. The answer, after almost 50 years of unendingly getting back up in the saddle again to essentially no avail, just cannot continue to be generalized anxiety and depression - maybe as some vague lifelong broad symptom descriptors but certainly not a root cause! Humans, hell all Life, are immeasurably complex and intricate and don't fit so neatly and easily. In my experience over the decades, even psycholgically and therapeutically trained professionals who must very much want to care and help, and who always have overly full client schedules, are in many ways as exceedingly difficult to relate and connect with to honestly convey one's truth as anyone else it seems. I wish they would be interested in and enjoy opening up and approaching with a beginner mind, an unassuming open-ended curiosity. Even they seem to be determined, or habituated, to make constant assumptions of others without all of the pertinent info or even determining/admitting whether they have it, have a reluctance or blind-spot in recognizing they may not have a grasp on the whole picture without testing that by delving in with wonder to clearly, directly and carefully inquire after more details before concluding anything, and they will themselves communicate in innuendo, as well as seemingly assuming I am using innuendo and obfuscation as well and then coming to conclusions about my presentation or persona or Truth based on non-existent imagined data. They seem like nice decent people, so then why why why make an Ass out of U and Me? Almost guaranteed to be wrong, a missed opportunity to relate honestly and with humility, which feels pretty good when it works out. Ssiiighh.
3:30 Orion, I have to disagree with you on this. When I was your age (I'm pretty sure you're not 60), I was better able to cope with my autism, which I was unaware of at the time (i.e. didn't know I'm autistic back then). However, as time goes on, I have found -- and I've heard others say the same -- that it becomes more difficult to handle autistic triggers and challenges. Perhaps one could say that "autism doesn't get worse with age," but the ability to handle it often and most probably does, so the end result is that yes, it "gets worse" with age.
Thank you so much for this. I have been experiencing regression and burnout and haven’t been able to find help. I keep encountering roadblocks just trying to get an autism evaluation. I asked to be referred to a therapist experienced with autistic adults. I was sent to a very nice lady who equates autism with not speaking and high support needs. I am so exhausted and frustrated.
Oooooh yes! Got diagnosed late and the regression has previously been interpreted as depression, anxiety, trauma response etc. And yes, I have had all that plus lack of kognitive functioning on many levels, not just executive functions. So now, I have a larger palette that I can use to have a chance of getting better and better att shaping my daily life to make it less up and then KRASCH. Thank you for sharing our insights and knowledge. ❤
This is such a valuable video! I got diagnosed (AuDHD) earlier this year because this is what was happening to me! I thought I was starting to go senile at 33 yrs old... I'm still trying to claw my way out of the burnout & regression. 😢
Thank you so much for doing what you do! I never thought I would find out so much about myself and be able to understand how I tick. I appreciate you!!
I appreciate your videos and they have helped me understand so nah about Autism. I am 64 and was diagnosed last December. Something to note about getting older: maybe the idea is Autism doesn't get worse; however, my experience is that as our nervous system gets older, it's harder for it to regulate all those sensory issues. Compared to when I was younger, I could cope better with the sounds, lights, smells etc. So maybe a way to look at it is that our Autism doesn't get worse, but as we get older our nervous system doesn't work as well, and we all know for Autistic people that our autonomic nervous system, especially the sympathic nervous system, works overtime. Just wanted to share my experience ...
Wow. Thank you for this video. You just put so many things into words for me. I am working through a late diagnosis and this video is super helpful in understanding what is going on. 😊
The world doesn’t give us the opportunity to recharge due to financial demands and other life demands, can’t catch a break,always in survival mode
@@Jenna.g.85 that is accurate. Thanks.
Too true
That's totally true.
@@Jenna.g.85 I totally understand
Wait till you are 72 like me I think I deal with it better at older age but 100 miles per hour at 7 yrs old till 2001 after first back operation that slowed me down until my late diagnosis then I slowed down more watching Autistic guy really educated me along with autism group therapy you should also know where your at on the spectrum and add that to your Autism good luck
THIS. All of this.
What's really stunning is how, no matter what condition we are in, we have to manage the NT's perception of us just to survive. Life doesn't just stop for us to recharge, unless we're ready to just give up everything and end up in a facility.
And a facility that can do nothing for us but put us in an environment that is not good for us. At least, not for me for sure. I don't need to be locked up, I don't need the talk therapy groups. They don't offer anything I need.
I’m living it at the moment, I knew it was a thing but I just didn’t know the word for it. My room’s a mess, I’m feeling fucked and I keep progressively fucking up more things about my job.
@@falcon5751that sounds really tough, I'm sorry for your struggle. I hope you find a nice way of coping, it doesn't have to be big. If you don't mind me asking, what's your coping mechanism now?
Thank you, Orion. The year I discovered my autism, my husband lost his job and our savings disappeared fast. My three University kids took upon them the responsibility to provide. My guilt for being unable to work ( I left 2 jobs after burnout), haunted me all year. My minimal routines help me stay sane, but I cry profusely at every added hurdle. My husband got a new job this month, which will ease my kids' load. My husband says that my job is the most important in the house, I keep everybody regulated (even when I am not). But next year is going to be better, I plan on getting my diagnosis ( I'm 52) and starting to organize my life better.
❤ Your kids sound like beautiful humans.
@ElroyBeezley They are. I'm very proud of the young adults they have become.
Sending some love over to you. It's clear you care, and your family cares about you in turn. Take care
@@bluefox5331 Thank you.
As someone with autism, who functions better when working together with people who understand my needs, I cannot emphasize enough the value you are providing to your family as the one who helps keep them regulated. Please remember this any time you feel you aren't doing enough to help. Yes, providing money to the family has value. As the saying goes, there are some things money can't buy, and you are providing what money cannot buy.
This is a very important video for me, Orion. Thank you! Autistic Burnout checks the boxes.
My work counselor said to me, "you have to tell what you need!"
But that's the problem.
For 4X years I have been adapting, normalizing, things are how they are and if I find it hard or draining or whatever, tough cookies; this is how 'everybody does it' and I just have to swallow hard and struggle and get used to it or fake it till I drop or drown.
This is my automatic pilot. I don't think about my needs!!! I don't even know WHAT I need. I just accept everything without a single thought if it could even BE any different to suit 'me' better.
Especially with unfamiliar situations!
@@AquaPeet Exactly. This is my experience as well. 🫂
@@AquaPeet yes, well said...right there with you
"make sure of all things, hold fast to what is fine"! (1Thess.5 :21, the Bible) that might sound easier said than done..... But just try and find one thing to start that seems a' fine' thing to you, then' hold fast to' it. Just a small - start. I'm autistic.... Give it a try, nothing to loose?
It's like workplaces want the kudos of including people with disabilities without the actual inconvenience (or even just stepping away from the norm) of accommodating a disabled person. If they must accommodate a disabled person I suspect they'd much rather put in a ramp for a wheelchair than allow an autistic person to work from home or have the quiet office, despite the fact that the latter are actually cheaper.
This is one of the best videos on burnout and regression I've seen, it lines up with my lived experiences almost exactly.
One thing I think could have been spelled out better is that once you've hit skill regression you may permanently no longer be able to do some things that you previously managed, or at least not at the same level.
For example in prior jobs part of my job was answering phones & calling clients. I pushed myself even though it was uncomfortable and it progressively became more difficult over the 20 years I did work. After my final major burnout and skill regression I often have a LOT of difficulty making required phone calls or answering the phone now in my personal life. It's been a few years of working on it and I can sometimes make and answer calls but frequently I need help.
I'm late-diagnosed (within the last year) and learning that I've been in autistic burnout for eight years. I've been trying to climb out of it this whole time using the wrong mindset and tools. (I'm in the US, so professional help is largely inaccessible.) Thank you so much for this video, Orion. I would love for more autistic content creators to talk about regression and burnout recovery.
You always make me feel like my experiences are normal and nothing to be ashamed about. Thank you for providing so much useful information and sharing your wonderful personality with all of us.
Burnout & autistic regression is how I found out that I’m autistic at 59 years old.
Same, just a couple decades earlier. Went to Drs to rule out physiological causes first because so many things were so glaringly wrong. But I could barely speak, so didn't manage to express myself with any kind of cohesion & couldn't keep up with MH services, so finally figured it out myself. (Despite my family suspecting for years. Denial is powerful).
Scary times when you feel like your brain & body are betraying you. I hope you're doing ok & have some comforts X
@ I started losing my speech until complete babble was coming out of my mouth. It is verbal dyspraxia. I’m in speech therapy now.
"Formally Diagnosed" four years ago at 60. Burnout and autistic regression brought serious consequences throughout my life. Grateful to know that I've never been all of the things I'd been labeled as...
Man you really saved me with this video. Im a first time watcher and it feels like divine intervention when i scrolled upon your upload in my feed. I have been in this regression for a couple months now and now that i see it for what it is, time to clean up house!!!
Autism regression is what led to my diagnosis of autism. The worse burn out of my life. I am currently in rebuild mode. One super simple step at a time.
Evidently AuDHDistics may find meditation challenging so, as a means of cultivating one's interoception, I recommend "low-effort" physical activities like walking, hiking, and bicycling.
Meditation is the sort of activity that rewards consistent routine practice so it's not great in a pinch; whereas the aforementioned activities are often familiar enough that we can do them relatively unconsciously and, over a sustained period of at least 20 minutes, it increases one's bodily awareness and thereby hones interoception skills.
This is one of the key things that, along with daily journaling, has made processing my late diagnosis a fairly intuitive process, e.g. the awareness that burnout recovery absolutely cannot be forced and requires a willingness to accept that low, low energy state.
People might also find activities like spinning yarn (either on a spinning wheel or a spindle) or practising playing open strings - yes, just open strings for that 20 minutes plus, good forms of meditation. When my lawn mower's working (it needs serviced) I find cutting the grass can also be a good form of meditation.
Making cordage (see Loop-and-Twist: an Ancient Form of Nalbinding by Sally Pointer, ua-cam.com/video/Gr43b95n3n0/v-deo.html ) might also be a good form of physical meditation.
I can't do regular meditation for toffee nuts but I enjoy these sorts of things that are fairly meditative forms of stimming.
I also fail on meditation because my brain cant shut up. It gives me the feeling I cant control my thoughts. What helps me is 1. talking a walk outside, especially in the nature and focusing on the birds singing or spotting flowers 2. Drawing and coloring. I love to draw but the process of coloring my pictures is absolutely relaxing for me. I just concentrate on which colors to use etc. and it sooo nice.
Thanks Orion! I turned 70 last month and only learned I was autistic a couple years ago. I really needed this video right now as I am definitely experiencing this. Thank you for all you do. 🙏🏼
I once saw someone on YT with the name Ingrid Cold. Maybe they’re your cousin 😊
Gotta go hang out with Mothman now 😄
Seeing fellow autists of my grandparents age commenting on UA-cam makes me smile so much. It makes me feel if I'm fortunate enough to make it to my 70s I can look forward to being cool, up-to-date with technology, actively working on self discovery and growth. I don't see many other neurotypicals like this. You guys rock.
24:10 That's why role-playing games (like D&D) are so good and de-stressing, just like you said in another video, because there are no winners and losers.
I was diagnosed a week ago and it wasn’t a huge surprise, feel relieved! My challenge now is that I’m struggling to mask, which I suppose would be considered ‘regression’ from the perspective of NTs. I will say ‘no’ with little to no hesitation, even at work. I’m now processing the idea of self disclosure at work to make things easier for me. It’s a toxic work environment but it also paid for my diagnosis and for therapy. It’s a tricky place to navigate.
I have two sons with Autistic Spectrum. My youngest son with Autistic Spectrum would get a fever from fatigue of trying to function in our city school with an IEP and harassment! He would have to rest for 3 days absent from school from burnout! Doctors wrote letters to the school they harassed us; but we ended up leaving and we enrolled both sons in an accredible Online school from 8th grade until graduation! Best Ever!!! I was their learning coach; they both graduated on Dean's List in their special education curriculums!!
it is lifelong, however if you're female and go through menopause you might find things get more intense and become too much to ignore.
At 38, I am so scared
@@kawag6356 menopause is how I found out I had autism - it just made it impossible to mask anymore.....I just thought all these things were normal for 50 years....sounds stupid but.....the doctors said it's quite common
@ From what I’ve read from other women, soooo true!
@@kawag6356: I am probably an outlier but for me menopause was easy as. While I don't think anyone likes such a concrete reminder of the aging process, not menstruating any more was _such a relief._ No more worries about how much it was going to hurt _this_ month, or if I was suddenly going to bleed through, etc.
Menarche and then menstruation were both really shitty for me, I felt I deserved an easy menopause! I understand it can be very different for quite a lot of other people but the reason I'm posting this is to let you know that it might not be as bad as you think, you might be one of the lucky ones. For your sake, I hope you are.
@My mother’s was horrible, and she is autistic too, that’s what scares me. I have already tried HRT for severe night sweats and nothing helped, those screwed me up even more, I had a terrible doctor. I actually figured out the night sweats are from my nervous system, I have pots, Heds, and lifelong problems with blood pressure and temperature control.
Thank you so much Orion. I have been thinking and experiencing this so much lately. My doctor thinks I'm getting MS because she doesn't know anything about ASD. My Therapist didn't understand what I meant because I couldn't explain it properly. I just wanted to know if I was going backwards. I feel so low and alone. Thank you for explaining 🙏
You're not alone ❤
You are not alone!!! We live it too!!! I really think Elon Musk would understand this podcast too... no joke!!! We have to give ourselves what we need and embrace our incredible uniqueness, believing in ourselves so we can create our ideas!!! I hope we are all learning to love ourselves more daily!!! Celebrate because we're not like the neurotypicals and we were born with different assignments!!! Everyone has a purpose here under God... Peace, love and happiness. Be kind to yourself 😊❤️🙏
Hi. Ask an Endocrinologist or your family doctor to check "all 3 panels of your Thyroid Functioning with a blood test" just to rule out a hypo thyroid issue as well. I have primary progressive Multiple Sclerosis, diagnosed in my late forties!* I have 2 sons with Autistic Spectrum and their deceased father (died of colo-rectal cancer) he had Asperger's! FYI; A neurologist doctor could order a brain and full spine MRI filma to rule out MS lesions. **Ask for a Large Bore MRI Machine if you have closterphobia and can't tolerate tight spaces, it's a more comfortable MRI !!! Been there!!! *Do you have physical symptoms of MS like numbness, neuropathy, loss of bladder function, drop foot, vision issues (optic neuritis?); trouble walking? I have Attention Deficit Disorder too with many sensory issues! We are all Autistic Spectrum in our home! Just keep up with your family doctor and explain it or take someone close to you who can explain your concerns! You could ask for a referral to a neurologist for a brain and full spine MRI Only with some blood tests! **Most people with MS are also Vitamin D deficient found by a blood test. Some issues can be caused from immune responses and low dose steroids like Prednisone help!!!*. The best way to rule out MS is by getting a brain and full spine MRI in a Large Bore MRI Machine to see if any MS lesions show up in your films. I just wanted to share this info here. I feel we Autistic people are also educating everyone who works in healthcare, it's True!!! Hey, I've already fired a few arrogant cold greedy doctors and 2 neurologists in 12 years! There are good and bad doctors as you know so do your homework and don't be afraid to speak up, write your concerns or have an advocate close to you help you communicate with your doctor, if needed! *Don't let anyone sign as your Power Of Attorney unless needed! Some asshole forged their name as my POA and blocked me from getting a RX filled for a wheelchair when both my legs went paralyzed after one full dose of Ocrevus infusion MS medicine and my neurologist didn't care she kept saying I had to come back every 6 months for 5 hour Ocrevus MS medicine infusions! A year later it caused more infections like Sepsis and Cellulitis, and bone marrow edema!!! I had to stop treatment with Ocrevus myself and my neurologist and Cleveland Clinic retaliated and are blocking me from further medical treatment there because their Ocrevus almost killed me!!! Three years later the same Sepsis infection returned though I quit Ocrevus infusions after a year in 2019; 3 months in hospital 2022. I made it back home to continue living with my adult disabled sons who have Autistic Spectrum!!! We modified, got security cameras; no real help from my parents and adult sisters and cousins!!? When I needed to use a wheelchair they all ghosted us, except for a few true friends! Weird!* We're creating our own way of living this life!!! Best to you and all who read this!!!
You could try to Write down (or Voice Record*) your concerns Before you go see your doctor and take 2 written copies with you, one for you and another copy for your doctor to read during your appointment.*** It helps! Finding skills to Advocate is challenging!! Our healthcare insurance advocates were a waste of payroll, no help so we fired them and reported to the Quality Control and Civil Rights Departments! ☺️
Had same thing happen. Ended up getting $3500 in scans resulting in no diagnossis and prescribing anti seizure meds which I refuse as its black tape over a check engine light. Engineering group recomended some nootropics which make life better.
My gosh….some days are slightly more tolerable than others. I totally understand. Articulating thoughts is a huge issue I’m having currently and my executive functioning has been battered. I’m just a floppy mess right now. Alone is the only way I am recovering. Thank you for this video.
Thank you. I needed to hear this right now. In a world full of neurotypicals it's really hard to give yourself the permission to listen to your needs, even if they are actual needs that need to be met.
I believe I'm going through burnout now. This has been the year of exposure therapy. My path to getting a proper diagnosis and support hasn't worked out that well, leaving me homeless. It's pretty obvious that my dr doesn't have any clue on what to do. I keep asking when am I going to get a neuropsych evolution or take dsm. I don't get answers. Thankfully I have so many people who believe in me and support what I do so now I have to show what can be done when we have proper support with the things i struggle with so i can do what I am good at.My goal is to be organized in my belongings, my thoughts and my actions.
Good luck ❤
Im so happy a channel like this exists, thank you for the educational and useful videos for a newly diagnosed autistic in his 30s...
Thanks for helping me during burnout!
Thank you for making a video on this! I only became aware of the term "autistic regression" last month, and it's definitely accurate to what I'm experiencing right now.
I think it started during the pandemic, where I was forced to stay home for two months. Even though I was stressed about not being able to work, those two months were the happiest months I've had in a very long time, because I didn't have to mask anymore. Going back to work was devastating on me, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Not long after going back, I was jobless for another nine months and I completely forgot how to "human". To this day, I'm still not the same. I can mask for work, but that's it. I don't go out hardly at all anymore unless it's with my best friend, and even then, I have limits.
Autistic regression seems to have become my new normal and just the thought of playing the character I once was gives me such bad anxiety.
@@Serendipity-Infinite I have had almost exactly the same experience.
The demand avoidance! I could not understand why my immediate reaction to being asked to do something was NO! Then a couple minutes later, it could be a different response! Thank you for this!
I always felt like I was different from most of the people around me. Only really specific people did I feel like they kind of understood me. I believe I learn masking very early and it became kind of a natural part of who I was. Better after a lot of really bad choices and having to face the consequences of those choices, I simplified my perception and stripped my character down to its most basic parts. That's when I decided that I was probably autistic. I won't ever try to mask and go back to it again. Having to cope with it, almost cost me my life.
😭 understandable
31:45. Thanks Orion. I've been struggling a lot lately and had those exact thoughts about myself. Thank you for reminding me what is real and that I'm not worthless.
Thank you Orion. Your content makes a difference to so many. 💙
Thank you, Orion. Tears are flowing freely right now. 😢 You explain it so well. ❤ I will share this video wth my best friend to help him gain a deeper understanding of this, so he knows it when it happens ! ❤❤❤❤❤
The only difference is that I do not understand loneliness... I have never felt lonely in my life. I simply don't have that in my bag of emotions. Put me in a cave for 5 years, Iike a true troglodyte: there will be no loneliness, I will emerge from that cave perfectly fine. If everyone suddenly vaporates from earth, except for me, I won't feel lonely... yes, I'll miss my mom and my best friend and his kids deeply, but I truly believe that personally, I would be fine... 😅
I’m only 3 mins into this and needing to have a break. Orion you are the only person who gets me. This is all too true and frankly, frightening
I get you. If only we had others.
@@MARCIA.ZZZZZZ although we are scattered, we have each other ❤
@Soprano1638 hi, thank you.
Thank you so much for talking with us. This subject has been heavy on my mind this week. Sometimes I wish I were like everyone else and was good at conversation. I wonder what people talk about when they are with their friends or loved ones. There always seems to be a subject I don't really want to talk about and I get burnt out by caring and listening anyway. I worry when I don't care anymore. That' a bad sign but I've been depressed before and I realize that it won't last forever. Thank you for being a virtual friend to me. Someone I feel like I know, and I like to listen to when I need someone. Thank you.
Extra agree with the low demand passions. Video games for me can be really refreshing, but if I'm really out of sorts certain tasks in video games can be too much and have the opposite effect. In those times I've learned to accept just doing something easier at that time.
I’m so glad I found ur channel. Ur video on burnout. And now this video have really helped me come to terms with what has happened to me. I experienced burnout almost 5 years ago. I’ve still not recovered. About 4 years ago I was diagnosed with ADHD, there are so many traits of autism I resonate with too.
My life has changed 100%.. I’ve gone from being on the go 24/7 to a burnout shell of a person. My senses and nervous system are on sooooo sensitive now. And I’m chronically exhausted. I also have CPTSD.
I moved from the city to an isolated off grid property in rural Western Australia.
Thank you a million times 🙏
The title of this video really struck me as apropos to my situation. I'm not diagnosed. I'm 63 years old and retired. I never thought of myself as autistic although I've always felt that I didn't quite belong and I always had to manage myself to fit in with others. My daughter recently told me that she thinks that both she and I are autistic. This was like looking back over my life with corrective lenses when I'd always been short sighted.
Since I've retired from work and there are no more demands on me to conform to the expectations of others, I've kind of lapsed into a hermit like existence. If not for the fact that my brother came to live with me when his marriage ended, I'd barely see anyone from month to month. I try not to interact with my brother either as his mental problems affect me negatively.
Regression seems just like the right word to describe what I'm experiencing and I'm not sure that I care. I think I'm quite OK with it.
5:45 I think "non-autistic burn-out" is tied to having too much stress placed upon you, often primarily at work, so that even though you may have high flood walls, eventually the huge waves of a rising ocean spill over. I was suffering from near total burn-out a few years back. The difference I think was that for me as an autistic person to the burn-out of a neurotypical person, was in part caused by the enormous stress at work - a stress my supervisors and managers would gladly compile because they knew I never complained but just worked harder - but much more by my having to coexist with my workmates as well as socialise with them. The managers' resolution to lift stress was to go on a break, something which would only augment it a hundredfold because of the social situation and because I knew that upon my return I would still have to resolve an issue that would have begun before the break, the potential of resolution for which would be on my mind as I had the harder than work work of socialising with my workmates. Also, they tried to force me to use a technique for work which was highly inefficient for me personally, for everyone else and the workplace as a whole. I disobeyed them. This meant I had to be constantly fearful of their reproaches while producing excellent results. This was a call centre and I remember one month of particularly high inbound call volumes for this home electronics and white goods manufacturer, when I took around half of the calls for the call centre as a whole and still met all my targets as regards customer satisfaction. I could never get a promotion because I had sort of made myself an enemy with management for not following their stupid rules and especially because I hardly spent any time at all socialising with the managers and supervisors as they had their extended breaks smoking outside the back door. At another place of work my manager said I should come into work (we did a lot remotely during COVID-19) to draw strength from my workmates when the effect was the exact opposite. My main point is that the social stress at work for us autists is even much worse than the stress of the work generally, but as autists we have to experience both, whereas neurotypical people generally experience the one and perhaps in some instances can even draw strength or destress from the other.
You have many good points here. Thank you for sharing!❤
@@jennieforsberg4415 Tack Jennie! ❤️
My work decided one way they would celebrate an anniversary was to take all the employees to a baseball game. On the surface it sounds great. But they planned it for midweek and we couldn't bring family members. So anyone with kids had to make sure they got fed and we didn't necessarily have designated drivers. For us autistic people we had to spend all day masking for these people then were expected to continue to do so for several more hours without a safe person around. I went out to dinner with my dad and then went home to bed.
@@bethenecampbell6463 ❤️ I would have been exhausted too.
The question is: How much obligation do we have to indulge the neuro-typicals? You at least had a logical motive in that you wanted to mask in order to "be socially acceptable" and keep your job and your livelihood, I presume. I am currently in a political party because I believe in change. I have noticed that the party doesn't want to win and is just a club for mutual internal admiration, which appears to be the case for many neuro-typical groups, political and otherwise. I am seriously considering leaving, because I am no longer a masochist.
Thanks for validating many concepts I have worked out for myself. The balance between avoiding people and loneliness is one I really struggle with - I mask very little and that means I have no friends or social life, which means I get very lonely but avoid the problems of being drained by masking. Oh the balance! Perhaps one day I'll get it!
Thanks so much for doing this video, Orion. I wish I couild like it more then once! I had what now seems an autistic burnout at 40, but diagnosed as chronic fatigue syndrome at the time. Apparently I''d been masking so 'well' that they didn't pick up that I was autistic for another 20 years.
im a neurodivergent person who is self-diagnosed. i struggle everyday and yet I feel misunderstood by some people including my dad. I'm also transgender.
We are sharing your podcast of valuable information with others!!! Great job!!! ***People on the Autistic Spectrum need support, rest to recharge, modifications, and a pace that works for them!!! My sons with Autistic Spectrum are also sharing this with their friends online as well; Thank You Dearly!!! Sandi, Al and Matthew in Ohio, USA 💜
Relate... what a whirlwind of a year it’s been for me, especially when one is in the thick of figuring ones self out. Just gotta say, I feel this & thank you. There’s something genuinely comforting about feeling that little spark of connection through the tangled mess of the internet. But man, trying to swap it out for real human contact? That’s a tall order.
That ending section... you made me cry. I'm in burnout again and I really needed to hear that so thank you!!
Thanks. This helped me greatly understand what I am going through.
This is absolutely spot on. And exactly what I’m walking through right now. Orion this is such a good video.
Thank you, Orion. I appreciate it.
This describes what I'm in and out of for the last 5+ years.
Quite often it takes me several attempts to put all the right words in the right order; not sure if this is to do with Autism, but I lose the ability to not only spell, but also count.
I am definitely having Autistic burnout from everything you described, but I can't tell if I'm masking or not, maybe I started masking so long ago that it became normal for me and I don't even realize I'm doing it and because of that, I can't tell if that's the problem for me.
To be honest, people expect a lot from me, I feel used and abused by most of the people in my life closest to me. I have been manipulated by most people in my life closest to me. I don't know anyone in my circle that aren't narcissists to some degree, so they don't care how drained I am and why things are much harder for me than they used to be.
That in itself make the burnout worst, the lack of understanding and support. I am overwhelmed, one bad misfortune after another and I went from struggling and stressing every month, to struggling and stressing every week, to struggling and stressing every day now. Few people know my story, one day I hope to share it with the world to give others perspective and understanding, but the few people that know my story, they don't really care, or it is mentally draining to them, so I just try to carry my weight, but the weight gets bigger and bigger and I'm so tired, mentally and physically.
In other words, I went through a lot of misfortunes one after another and I have to deal with all of them and they're so much and while trying to heal from one thing, I get another misfortune on top of it and while I'm trying to find time to improve my mental health, it is always interrupted by people that need me to help them because they do not have the means to help themselves, and it's not that I don't want to help, I'm just tired and if I say know, they manipulate me into feeling bad, when instead, they should respect how I'm feeling and give me the breather I need.
So not only does the misfortunes keep happening weekly, but they're piling up, while I'm still trying to heal from the previous misfortunes while at the same dealing with trying to solve everyone else's problems when I can't even solve my own because I'm either too tired or nobody lets me when I have the time I need. This cycle has gone on for as long as I can remember at this point, I have a responsibility as a single father too.
I have to pay Child Support, but my mental health has made it difficult for me to find work and I messed up my back, so doing physical work is difficult, so I am not really making income and can't afford Child Support, but I am very involved in my children's lives. I am the one that takes them to and from Doctor's appointments, I schedule the appointments, I take them out of the house for 10 hours every weekend, I attend their parent teacher conferences and am part of everything related to their schooling, I do their laundry, and I do grocery shopping for them.
Now, these are things I do on my own, their mother (whom they currently live with, me and her are no longer together) doesn't do any of these things. Her washer and dryer are broken, so I have to take the clothes to the laundromat because she doesn't drive, nor have a driver's license, nor does she even know how to drive. She doesn't do the school or doctor stuff because of anxiety or something, she doesn't take them out or spend any quality time with them for reasons I don't understand, so I do these things.
Don't get me wrong, I love doing these things for my kids, I'm not complaining, but she put me on Child Support like I'm some kind of dead beat. I see and talk to my kids every day, if not in person, through video calling. But if I'm going to be on Child Support, then I need to earn income and to earn income, I need to work, how can I have time to work, if I'm doing all of these things for the kids that she's not helping me with? And I told Department of Revenue this and they don't care. I applied for disability 3 years ago, 2 years after trying before and I was denied, so I appealed it and it's been over a year since then and the case is still open, so I can't financially sustain myself because it is difficult for me to get a job and because DOR thinks I'm not disabled enough, so now I am drowning in debt, credit score took a nose dive, my car was repossessed and now I'm on Child Support.
Not only am I doing a lot for my kids, but I am regularly seeing doctors. Chiropractor twice a week, Therapist once a week, Psychiatrist every few months, so that is more time that takes me away from working normal hours and then you have everyone's needs. They don't have a car or their car is broken, so they need me to take them somewhere (my brother gave me a car after mine was repossessed), they need me to drive them places or need me to pick up things for them or they want to hang out right after I have exhausted myself for the day and I just want to be left alone to decompress for a bit, to focus on 1 thing at a time and then they get upset that I don't want to hang out, adding another layer mental strain for wanting to please everyone and make everyone happy.
Wow I couldn't imagine the pain my prayers for you brother I do hope things get better for you and your family ❤️🙏🙏
Thanks Orion Kelly. My 10 y/o daughter has autism and you make me understand her and her struggles a little better every time I watch one of your videos. I must admit, they are a bit heavy on the information side, but the overall message of the video is very strong and so true.
I want to add one thing about those burn out periods, or autistic regression as you put it. I have them as well, though they usually won't last longer than a day, 2 days tops. I don't have autism I should add, and I still can be overcome with emotions and come undone. Even us neurotypical people are usually putting on a mask, it's just more natural to us, and even so it wears us down overtime where we need some me time doing our, not making sense to most, nonsense it so often seems. Our comfort food for thought? idk Sometimes my mind thinks up all of these beautiful feelings without attaching the proper words or feelings to it.
autism is highly genetic - you should consider that you might have it as well!
Thank you. EXACTLY my experience at almost 68. For ALL the reasons you listed. Even the coping strategies. Close to perfect (typed with a hint of humour). I forgot the other part I wanted to express: The ADHD bits also regress!
Sound and light sensitivity. Also, seams in what was previously "safe clothing." I will actually get red marks on my skin from seams that weren't an issue before.
Red lines from clothes can be MCAS mast cell activation syndrome. The red lines are often called skin writing. Dr Laurence Afrin talks about it in his book "Never Bet Against Occam". But there are many interviews with him here on YT.
I get the red marks from seams, too! I sleep in inside-out clothes to help minimize irritation. So frustrating to wake up itchy and have to go change in the middle of the night!
I said NO to someone today!!
Some stranger wanted me to buy him a meal at some restuarant I had never even heard of before - plus it sells my major ALLERGENS!! I told him NO! i dont ever go into restaurants! They are not safe! Heck I get sick outside them from the fumes coming out. Plus tomorrow I go to the allergist for skin prick testing. I have been off my antihistamines (tea) for a whole week now and I am reacting to everything. And feel so tired too. I had cut my finger on Thanksgiving and I took the bandaid off this morning and I thought it was OK but this evening it just started to bleed again. 😢 just from relaxing with a video. Uggh. Just so super reactive now and tons of ear ringing too.
I didn't know tea was an antihistamine! Any particular type you recommend? I've been researching histamine intolerance & neurodivergence & it seems to make a lot of sense with the gut-brain axis, DAO deficiency, seratonin & dopamine. Lots more reading & experimemting to do! (Any non-drowsy antihistamine without lactose would be wonderful for me!)
I thought at first you were a little rude saying 'NO!' rather than, 'no thanks' but he was asking YOU to buy him a meal? AND telling you where to eat?? Erm, that's not how invites usually work! Good for you for standing up for yourself!
@@hannahmitchell87 I just looked it up and Telfast doesn't have lactose (in Australia anyway), hopefully they work for you seeing as Zyrtec and Claratyne both do contain lactose (each of them has a different active ingredient that works as an anti hystamine)
@@amandamandamands that's so kind of you, thank you! I'll look into it 🖤💜🖤
Can we have more social script ideas please Orion. You are amazing at what you do. Thanks Orion. Best wishes to you and your family ❤
I’ve been going through this at the moment Orion. I’ve had a lot of stress in my life and suffer with anxiety which concurrent with my Autism too. Just something simple like finding the energy to go shower after work or cook dinner. I can see me having to lay down and rest to give me enough energy to complete those tasks. I’m imminently moving house with my wife to our first house we’ve bought back in summer. I’ve been renting a flat with an awful drug-dealing anti-social neighbour for the last 18 months. I’m so done with the situation and really cannot wait to move. The house has been getting work done on it so isn’t ready to move in just yet but should be soon. I’m so done at the moment. I’ve been referred to Occupational Therapy for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for my anxiety. Hopefully it helps as my first appointment is soon. Thank you for this video buddy as it’s helped me understand more about what I’m feeling 😊
I don't have a diagnosis but I checked most boxes watching your videos. I thrive when I can lock in a routine. But when there's a change the whole thing crumbles away for a while.
Same thing here
Thank you so much for making these videos this helps my family understand me better cuz I have Autism and ADHD
Your videos always come to me when i need them most
I’m going through autistic regression right now. Everything you say makes sense to me. I got my diagnosis last year at the age of 39. I’ve got a long road ahead of me 😢
I am going to listen to this one on repeat for a while.
Me too it's such a good plan to help us in our daily lives
Thank you so much Orion for this video! Now I finally understand why I am sometimes completely unable to do simple things. I was getting worried about myself but now thanks to your video I feel a lot better and I will pay more attention to the signs and - try to - relax and chill out more often. Thank you ❤
Everything resonates and there is nothing i can do. Im so isolated. Leaving my house is monumental. Yes perfectionism.!!!!
Unless you're a child and considered low functioning the world doesn't care about this. Its horrible.
That is sadly true, it seems 😢
What is the World supposed to do?
Employers want you to do your work. If you don't do your work, others suffer because they have to do your work on top of theirs.
You A only see yourselves and have zero thoughts about others
@CordeliaWagner1999 it's a disability you abelist
@CordeliaWagner We can bring a lot to the table if we're allowed to work out what interests us, we have work limitations but also have an ability to hyperfocus and work with a tanacity that nuro typical folk struggle with, we have an attention to detail that is uncommon in most people. We view the world differently and this gives us unique problem solving skills. We're very literal, this means that we can only do a job one way, the right way, we will invariably take longer to do a task, but it will be done 100% to the letter, as per the training manual. We all play to our strengths not our weaknesses, not everyone can work in construction, as a carer, as a funeral director, as a computer programmer, and neither should they. A recognition of who we are and what we can do and what we need, will make life in the workpkace easier for us and easier for you. You do you, and I'll do me.
Some employers actively now seek out nuro divergent folk, as they've made accommodations in the work place and know we can out work others in certain roles.
This video showed up out of the blue just after I got off the phone with someone explaining that my brain has gone stupid and I don't know what is wrong with me. Autistic Regression. I understand what is wrong now. You cannot possibly know how helpful and timely this video is. I am not coping. It does not mean I am fundamentally flawed. I feel better knowing there is a name for what I am experiencing and it is NORMAL. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
These issues come up so often in our support meetings. Thank you for addressing it in an eloquent and encouraging manner! The struggle is real!
Thank you I love the way you use a bit of comedy to teach. So many great strategies. Its so hard to say no to family.
@Orion, Thank you Orion, you are just forkin awesome! You put into words what I can't seem to and I love your heated rants because you aren't just standing up for you but for us all autistic people and I love it!!! Thank you so much!!! ❤️🙏
Thank you so much for this video. I definitely needed to hear this one. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
Thanks so very much for your videos, Orion. They have tremendously improved my understanding of autism, restored my self-esteem, helped me to learn strategies for managing my health and life, and best of all - giving me faith in myself and love for myself...
Sensory input my hearing became so intense I could hear the neighbors in the house next door doing laundry, playing etc. the slightest creak in my own house… beyond bionic hearing triggers the most horrific thoughts
What you said about alone time- what I have for alone time is never enough, I’m trying to avoid people places
Wondering if I’ll ever be ok enough
*ORION* - THANK YOU so much for this. My husband and two of my adult children are autistic. Trying to help my daughters-in-law navigate their relationships with my children is so difficult when I can't explain what it is their spouses are dealing with. You articulated this SO beautifully! Cheers!
I tried talking to everyone about what i have been experiencing. I even tried sharing your videos.
Thank you sooo much for this video! I really, really needed to hear this today. ❤
If you're a gamer like myself, and btw gaming is for us adults too, we're allowed to have fun, try the 'sandbox' category of gaming. I play Stardew Valley, Terraria and Minecraft. Stardew has a storyline but all can be played any way you choose. Terraria and Minecraft even have settings to turn on/off enemies so that if you don't feel like beating up bad guys & just want to build and relax, you can do. For me, they're a great way to unplug my brain from the rest of the world and just chill in my own worlds.
Great advice, I love gaming too. I always play the easy mode to enjoy the story and I can really dive into the story and "live" with the characters. I love God of War, Witcher Wild Hunt or Ghost of Tsushima and have fun killing the bad guys ;p
Thank you Orion, as always you are a great help. Pretty sure i am dealing with this at the moment. My year started off with three big events that leveled me. I have been struggling to get back trying my best to get back a routine. Its almost the end of the year and i m at ground zero again. Taking time out. This video helped me identify a lot of things, and realize i am doing all the right things for myself and my mental and physical well being not the well being of others.
Question for all the neurodivergent people in the chat, for someone who’s in a relationship with someone who’s going through this: how can you be supportive? And what would you say to the emotions/experiences of the person who’s on the other side?
Try to encourage them to keep a consistent routine so they have some basic structure and keep their anxiety levels low if possible,my two cents .
(Also thanks for being so kind and caring to your neurodivergent spouse)
You’re doing great work for humanity. Thank you ❤
This is a GREAT segment. Thank you bci can send this to all my closest people. I just learned and am trying to unmask. I've been in burnout and regression for years. This is immensely satisfying to hear this, this. Now I can show them an explanation/ perspective that is thorough for us and them. Ty. This is my life...
Now I have retired, I have experienced this and have had to try and figure it out for myself.
This is why I'm glad my daughter got the support I never did.
We've had a demolition & then construction site across the fence for the past five years. Between that & COVID, I became non verbal, hypersensitive & hyper vigilant. It's only in the past month since construction finished that I'm actually remembering who I am & what I'm supposed to do without constant prompting. Oh & the 3 houses that were demolished to build a townhouse development next door? Vacant, having been replaced with 11 townhouses, with no interest from buyers & no sign of the owners who bought off plan before construction was completed. I can't imagine how much worse it would've been without acoustic insulation & double glazed windows (that were helpful, but unable to fully block annoying noise).
I really enjoyed this video subject and your delivery Orion. Thank you so much! I also was laughing at the “just say no” part and how you gleefully slapped a NO! On the screen 😂 because as you said it and as you joked around- I felt that inner jerk joyfully tasting flat out NO’s! Haha.
Additionally, wouldn’t these things be good for EVERYONE? I swear I love this channel. No idea about myself, but can relate to much of the burnout, overwhelm, needing time alone, executive function, needing safe place, and just so much. ❤
This was very interesting! I thought my only experience with regression was when my son's speech regressed at 2 and now he's completely nonspeaking, but I think I've experienced this. Great video!
"Oh no I must be having dementia" is ngl how I feel with my current regression - second burnout, pretty severe this time, to the point I am very concerned if that were to happen a third time.
My paternal grandma has dementia and sometimes it feels like I behave like her. Thebonly difference is that I went through that already and know it's temporary - it just takes time to heal itself.
But my life doesn't allow me to take a break. A good, LONG BREAK where I can partake in my hobbies to rest and recover.
It's incredibly hard to explain that to other people - and more importantly, to have them understand. "But you don't look autistic" yes Suzanne, because you're probably mistaking autism and Down Syndrome. Just because my autism isn't visible, doesn't mean it doesn"t exist - basic object permanence theory, something babies can learn but adults seem to forget.
I am so tired man. So, so tired. And I don't get help, even when I spell everything out. I just don't get the help I need, it's awful.
Thank you so much for this vid and for not being too serious about it. Its exactly what I needed to hear today as I had no idea this is what is happening to me…❤❤❤
As to saying no, can I suggest two things?
1. There is this game called „Say NO more!”:))) Its super funny and entertaining and you can start to learn how to say no in a virtual environment 😀
2. Use RPG games to test „new personality traits”. What I mean? Say you always play a good guy, a knight in a shiny armor rescuing damsels, Become a sleezy thief, who does what HE wants when HE wants! Believe me its harder then you think even though its just a game environment!!! But in time it will become easier and this can transition to your real daily life. Have a go! See how you like it and if this can help you learn to become someone who fights for you.
I hope that can help someone here. Love!
Thanks Orion from a late aged diagnosed Audhd. Really helpful stuff. Will buy the book in a few weeks. Thanks again me and the Chi's'
🐾🐾♥️🐾🐾
I really appreciate it.
As I watch and relate profoundly over and again every few minutes throughout this much-appreciated video, and you make suggestions and give compassionate encouragement so skillfully in your own particularly talented way, at just the right moments with grace and in your own rhythm, I am wishing I could "Like" this 15,000 times!
Its peferctly imperfectly perfect, in the sense that its helpful in all the right ways and imbued with your passion and wisdom, aka hard-fought hard-earned skill and dedicated practice. You're really really good at this. Thank you.
I envision sitting down with a new therapist (humongous leap of faith, again, in complete & total long-term burned out, traumatized, grief laden, utterly regressive desperation) to watch this and pause to discuss every few minutes so she may begin to start to grasp some semblance of understanding my world, my complicated insides. Not that I could even imagine communicating that idea to her. Maybe just watching this myself a couple times and taking notes could help me explain myself better next time. ? I swear I've tried.
The answer, after almost 50 years of unendingly getting back up in the saddle again to essentially no avail, just cannot continue to be generalized anxiety and depression - maybe as some vague lifelong broad symptom descriptors but certainly not a root cause! Humans, hell all Life, are immeasurably complex and intricate and don't fit so neatly and easily.
In my experience over the decades, even psycholgically and therapeutically trained professionals who must very much want to care and help, and who always have overly full client schedules, are in many ways as exceedingly difficult to relate and connect with to honestly convey one's truth as anyone else it seems. I wish they would be interested in and enjoy opening up and approaching with a beginner mind, an unassuming open-ended curiosity. Even they seem to be determined, or habituated, to make constant assumptions of others without all of the pertinent info or even determining/admitting whether they have it, have a reluctance or blind-spot in recognizing they may not have a grasp on the whole picture without testing that by delving in with wonder to clearly, directly and carefully inquire after more details before concluding anything, and they will themselves communicate in innuendo, as well as seemingly assuming I am using innuendo and obfuscation as well and then coming to conclusions about my presentation or persona or Truth based on non-existent imagined data. They seem like nice decent people, so then why why why make an Ass out of U and Me? Almost guaranteed to be wrong, a missed opportunity to relate honestly and with humility, which feels pretty good when it works out.
Ssiiighh.
3:30 Orion, I have to disagree with you on this. When I was your age (I'm pretty sure you're not 60), I was better able to cope with my autism, which I was unaware of at the time (i.e. didn't know I'm autistic back then). However, as time goes on, I have found -- and I've heard others say the same -- that it becomes more difficult to handle autistic triggers and challenges. Perhaps one could say that "autism doesn't get worse with age," but the ability to handle it often and most probably does, so the end result is that yes, it "gets worse" with age.
Thank you for mentioning rebuilding daily routine. It is so validating.
Thank you so much for this. I have been experiencing regression and burnout and haven’t been able to find help. I keep encountering roadblocks just trying to get an autism evaluation. I asked to be referred to a therapist experienced with autistic adults. I was sent to a very nice lady who equates autism with not speaking and high support needs. I am so exhausted and frustrated.
This is all very well put Orion. Coming out of extended burnout and I’m most certain this helps me try to reframe things!
Oooooh yes! Got diagnosed late and the regression has previously been interpreted as depression, anxiety, trauma response etc. And yes, I have had all that plus lack of kognitive functioning on many levels, not just executive functions. So now, I have a larger palette that I can use to have a chance of getting better and better att shaping my daily life to make it less up and then KRASCH. Thank you for sharing our insights and knowledge. ❤
This is such a valuable video!
I got diagnosed (AuDHD) earlier this year because this is what was happening to me! I thought I was starting to go senile at 33 yrs old...
I'm still trying to claw my way out of the burnout & regression. 😢
Man this is so good!! 🔥
I have found that listening to worship music and gaining a relationship with God has helped me tremendously❤It's the best peace I have ever felt!
Orian, thank you for this important message! Beautifully real, informative, thoughtful and humorous.💕
This is such an awesome video, I really needed to watch it
That's this phase I'm in right now. Thanks, your video helped me a lot.
Thanks so much for this particular topic! I'm pretty sure I'll be going back to it. Autistic regression is a phrase I didn't know I've needed.
Finally the words! Thank you again Orion!
Thank you for posting this! I needed this
Thank you Orion.This video has come just a the right time.I now have a much better understanding of what has been happening.Much appreciated
Thank you so much for doing what you do! I never thought I would find out so much about myself and be able to understand how I tick. I appreciate you!!
I appreciate your videos and they have helped me understand so nah about Autism. I am 64 and was diagnosed last December. Something to note about getting older: maybe the idea is Autism doesn't get worse; however, my experience is that as our nervous system gets older, it's harder for it to regulate all those sensory issues. Compared to when I was younger, I could cope better with the sounds, lights, smells etc. So maybe a way to look at it is that our Autism doesn't get worse, but as we get older our nervous system doesn't work as well, and we all know for Autistic people that our autonomic nervous system, especially the sympathic nervous system, works overtime. Just wanted to share my experience ...
Wow. Thank you for this video. You just put so many things into words for me.
I am working through a late diagnosis and this video is super helpful in understanding what is going on. 😊
Going to work every day can take a toll. I have had to go through many places to find a safe place that works with my talents.
I appreciate your videos, Orion!