Autistic Burnout
Luke: It’s hard for me to admit, but I’m burnt out.
I have so many incredible things on my plate right now, that I feel guilty saying it’s too much.
I’m grateful for every opportunity and I’m tired.
It’s contradictory, I know.
A huge part of my burnout is my overactive sensory system.
Everything is more intense for me.
It’s exhausting.
I need significantly more downtime.
I have to learn to say ‘no.’
There is so much work to be done to support nonspeakers and so few of us doing it.
I feel obligated to step up.
But I’m tired.
My nervous system is shot.
My anxiety is sky high.
My world opened up with spelling, yet it’s also gotten smaller.
I make it smaller so I can survive.
I need predictability to regulate.
My space.
My things.
My people.
I need to come back to that right now.
I need to heal so I can thrive again.
I miss joy.
Advocacy for my basic human rights is exhausting.
Sandra: Because of Luke’s burnout, and tbh mine as well, we will be taking an earned break from advocacy and social media until the New Year. We will post about The Assembly Season 2, but we will not be participating or engaging in any new events or fundraisers. There is so much more to do (30 million nonspeakers worldwide!) but right now we need to protect Luke’s nervous system. He was so quiet and trapped for so long, and has accomplished so much in the last 3 years!! We are super proud of him, and will do everything we can to continue to support him. Isn’t it great that he can now tell us what he needs? What a gift.
Update: Despite Luke often spelling that he is tired over the past few months, last week he spelled: " I AM LIKING THE RELAXING QUIET WEEK." He also said that "EARLY FALL IS MY FAVOURITE SEASON." Since we have slowed down any expectations, we have seen Luke smile more.
