If you’re neurodivergent, how do you stave off burnout?

[roseygo]

Posting for traffic.

I’ve been in the office today and I am now at home, scrolling my phone and decompressing from the day. I find commuting very much hard work (total sensory overload with how loud and busy it is) and feel very socially exhausted and overstimulated after days where I haven’t been working from home. I mask well but then at home require so much quiet time. I have a lovely job which I enjoy very much but this doesn’t change that being social thoroughly and utterly overwhelms me- saying the right thing, making eye contact, all feels like acting all day. I overthink everything and worry about looking normal and being professional even though I know I have been.

I found similar things difficult in childhood but guess the magnitude of general responsibility and stuff to do in adulthood makes the overwhelm x100. I never feel on top of things try as I might.

DH very supportive and does the bulk of the housework, laundry and such despite working himself but I still need so much down time after every single day.

I am waiting to be assessed for autism. I have kind of always known I was neurodivergent but I expected I would find more ways to cope with age rather than it get harder!

If you’re ND how do you prevent burnout and keep your social batteries charged? Is there a hack or is constantly feeling this way part of it? Not deficient in anything, eat a good diet and exercise fairly regularly before anyone suggests to do those things.

Thanks in advance for anyone who replies.

The key is to identify what you’re finding difficult and then look for ways to deal directly with that.

So rather than try to manage the exhaustion/burnout after a difficult commute, stop feeling like you need to hide who you are and acknowledge (to yourself and publicly) that the commute is difficult.

So it’s too noisy? Wear ear defenders.
It’s too crowded? Ask to adjust your working hours so you avoid rush hour.
The smells are overwhelming? Try Vicks Vapor rub beneath your nose, or any essential oil that you like the smell of and then focus on that.
Being social all day gets too much? Build a break into your day, schedule some time to read/review docs or something.

Are you in any autism support groups? If you Google for your local area, or look up National autism society you can start finding lots of advice and tips from other people on how to reduce the social and sensory overwhelm.

It sounds like you’re already doing a lot to help yourself. And I like the sound of your husband! How often do you have to go into the office? Assume you can’t work from home more? Any flexibility in working hours? Ie going in earlier/leaving earlier to make the commute easier?