Beyond Exhaustion: Shame, Identity Disruption, and Functional Collapse in Autistic Burnout / Megan M. CLAREY in Autism, 30-6 (June 2026)  

Public ISBD [article]  inAutism > 30-6 (June 2026) . - p.1519-1531 Titre : Beyond Exhaustion: Shame, Identity Disruption, and Functional Collapse in Autistic Burnout Type de document : texte imprimé Auteurs : Megan M. CLAREY, Auteur ; Michael J. IRELAND, Auteur ; Susan ABEL, Auteur ; Charlotte BROWNLOW, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.1519-1531 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : autistic burnout  dual-masking  gentle re-engagement  people-adjacent  shame Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Autistic burnout is typically defined as chronic exhaustion with functional impacts on everyday life. It appears common across work, study, and relationships, yet its emotional and relational dimensions remain underexamined. To document lived experiences of autistic burnout among autistic adults and to identify emotional and relational processes (e.g. shame and masking) that may shape onset, maintenance, and recovery. Eleven autistic adults participated in semi-structured interviews or written responses conducted online between July 2023 and November 2024. Data were analysed using template analysis, combining a priori codes from prior research with inductive coding. Participants described profound exhaustion, sensory overload, and executive dysfunction that disrupted daily life. A prominent emergent theme was shame, which shaped interpretations of functional limits, masking efforts, and help-seeking. Many reported dual-masking, concealing both autistic traits and signs of burnout, which intensified strain, delayed recognition, and undermined recovery. Withdrawal and “gentle re-engagement” through low-demand, people-adjacent activities were described as recovery strategies. Autistic burnout involves physical and cognitive challenges alongside relational and emotional processes that can precipitate and sustain it and complicate recovery. Shame and masking shape how burnout is interpreted and disclosed, underscoring the need for shame-aware, low-demand supports.Lay Abstract Autistic burnout is a period of overwhelming exhaustion and reduced ability to cope with everyday life. Although autistic people have spoken about burnout for many years, there is still little research describing what it actually feels like. In this study, 11 autistic adults shared their experiences of burnout through online interviews or written responses. We analysed their words to look for common patterns and individual differences. Participants described extreme tiredness, difficulty starting and completing everyday tasks, and increased sensitivity to noise, light, or smells. Many withdrew from friends, family, or work to protect their limited energy. A key pattern was shame, feeling embarrassed, inadequate, or like a burden, which shaped how people made sense of their burnout and whether they felt able to ask for help. Several described “dual-masking,” meaning they hid both their autistic traits and the signs of burnout itself. This added pressure often made burnout last longer and delayed access to support. Recovery was often slow. Gentle steps, such as spending quiet time near others without having to talk (“people-adjacent” activities), helped them reconnect without pressure. These findings suggest that supportive environments, where autistic people feel safe to be themselves, may reduce the impact and length of burnout episodes. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613261444797 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=586 [article] Beyond Exhaustion: Shame, Identity Disruption, and Functional Collapse in Autistic Burnout [texte imprimé] / Megan M. CLAREY, Auteur ; Michael J. IRELAND, Auteur ; Susan ABEL, Auteur ; Charlotte BROWNLOW, Auteur . - p.1519-1531. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Autism > 30-6 (June 2026) . - p.1519-1531 Mots-clés : autistic burnout  dual-masking  gentle re-engagement  people-adjacent  shame Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Autistic burnout is typically defined as chronic exhaustion with functional impacts on everyday life. It appears common across work, study, and relationships, yet its emotional and relational dimensions remain underexamined. To document lived experiences of autistic burnout among autistic adults and to identify emotional and relational processes (e.g. shame and masking) that may shape onset, maintenance, and recovery. Eleven autistic adults participated in semi-structured interviews or written responses conducted online between July 2023 and November 2024. Data were analysed using template analysis, combining a priori codes from prior research with inductive coding. Participants described profound exhaustion, sensory overload, and executive dysfunction that disrupted daily life. A prominent emergent theme was shame, which shaped interpretations of functional limits, masking efforts, and help-seeking. Many reported dual-masking, concealing both autistic traits and signs of burnout, which intensified strain, delayed recognition, and undermined recovery. Withdrawal and “gentle re-engagement” through low-demand, people-adjacent activities were described as recovery strategies. Autistic burnout involves physical and cognitive challenges alongside relational and emotional processes that can precipitate and sustain it and complicate recovery. Shame and masking shape how burnout is interpreted and disclosed, underscoring the need for shame-aware, low-demand supports.Lay Abstract Autistic burnout is a period of overwhelming exhaustion and reduced ability to cope with everyday life. Although autistic people have spoken about burnout for many years, there is still little research describing what it actually feels like. In this study, 11 autistic adults shared their experiences of burnout through online interviews or written responses. We analysed their words to look for common patterns and individual differences. Participants described extreme tiredness, difficulty starting and completing everyday tasks, and increased sensitivity to noise, light, or smells. Many withdrew from friends, family, or work to protect their limited energy. A key pattern was shame, feeling embarrassed, inadequate, or like a burden, which shaped how people made sense of their burnout and whether they felt able to ask for help. Several described “dual-masking,” meaning they hid both their autistic traits and the signs of burnout itself. This added pressure often made burnout last longer and delayed access to support. Recovery was often slow. Gentle steps, such as spending quiet time near others without having to talk (“people-adjacent” activities), helped them reconnect without pressure. These findings suggest that supportive environments, where autistic people feel safe to be themselves, may reduce the impact and length of burnout episodes. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613261444797 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=586

Investigating interoception and body awareness in adults with and without autism spectrum disorder / Lisa FIENE in Autism Research, 8-6 (December 2015)  

Public ISBD [article]  inAutism Research > 8-6 (December 2015) . - p.709-716 Titre : Investigating interoception and body awareness in adults with and without autism spectrum disorder Type de document : texte imprimé Auteurs : Lisa FIENE, Auteur ; Charlotte BROWNLOW, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.709-716 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : Autism  Asperger's syndrome  interoception  body awareness  ASD  thirst  hunger  temperature Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : This study aimed to investigate the current gap in the literature with regard to how adults with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) interpret elements of the interoceptive sense, which includes thirst, hunger, temperature, satiety, and the prediction of onset of illness. Adults with a diagnosed ASD (n = 74; 36 males, 38 females) were compared to a control group (n = 228; 53 males, 174 females, 1 unspecified) in their self-reported perceptions of body awareness utilizing the Body Awareness Questionnaire (BAQ) and thirst awareness using the Thirst Awareness Scale (TAS). Those in the ASD group reported a clinically significant lower body and thirst awareness compared to the control group, and this was a large effect (BAQ; d = −1.26, P < 0.001; TAS; d = −1.02, P < 0.001). These findings are of clinical importance, as difficulty with sensing internal bodily states could theoretically impact on the physical and mental health, social interactions and self-awareness of adults with ASD. Autism Res 2015, 8: 709–716. © 2015 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aur.1486 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=278 [article] Investigating interoception and body awareness in adults with and without autism spectrum disorder [texte imprimé] / Lisa FIENE, Auteur ; Charlotte BROWNLOW, Auteur . - p.709-716. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Autism Research > 8-6 (December 2015) . - p.709-716 Mots-clés : Autism  Asperger's syndrome  interoception  body awareness  ASD  thirst  hunger  temperature Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : This study aimed to investigate the current gap in the literature with regard to how adults with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) interpret elements of the interoceptive sense, which includes thirst, hunger, temperature, satiety, and the prediction of onset of illness. Adults with a diagnosed ASD (n = 74; 36 males, 38 females) were compared to a control group (n = 228; 53 males, 174 females, 1 unspecified) in their self-reported perceptions of body awareness utilizing the Body Awareness Questionnaire (BAQ) and thirst awareness using the Thirst Awareness Scale (TAS). Those in the ASD group reported a clinically significant lower body and thirst awareness compared to the control group, and this was a large effect (BAQ; d = −1.26, P < 0.001; TAS; d = −1.02, P < 0.001). These findings are of clinical importance, as difficulty with sensing internal bodily states could theoretically impact on the physical and mental health, social interactions and self-awareness of adults with ASD. Autism Res 2015, 8: 709–716. © 2015 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aur.1486 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=278

Meaningful research for autistic people? Ask autistics! / Rebecca POULSEN in Autism, 26-1 (January 2022)  

Public ISBD [article]  inAutism > 26-1 (January 2022) . - p.3-5 Titre : Meaningful research for autistic people? Ask autistics! Type de document : texte imprimé Auteurs : Rebecca POULSEN, Auteur ; Charlotte BROWNLOW, Auteur ; Wenn LAWSON, Auteur ; Elizabeth PELLICANO, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.3-5 Langues : Anglais (eng) Index. décimale : PER Périodiques En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613211064421 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=451 [article] Meaningful research for autistic people? Ask autistics! [texte imprimé] / Rebecca POULSEN, Auteur ; Charlotte BROWNLOW, Auteur ; Wenn LAWSON, Auteur ; Elizabeth PELLICANO, Auteur . - p.3-5. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Autism > 26-1 (January 2022) . - p.3-5 Index. décimale : PER Périodiques En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613211064421 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=451

Profiling Autism Symptomatology: An Exploration of the Q-ASC Parental Report Scale in Capturing Sex Differences in Autism / S. ORMOND in Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 48-2 (February 2018)  

Public ISBD [article]  inJournal of Autism and Developmental Disorders > 48-2 (February 2018) . - p.389-403 Titre : Profiling Autism Symptomatology: An Exploration of the Q-ASC Parental Report Scale in Capturing Sex Differences in Autism Type de document : texte imprimé Auteurs : S. ORMOND, Auteur ; Charlotte BROWNLOW, Auteur ; Michelle S. GARNETT, Auteur ; Agnieszka RYNKIEWICZ, Auteur ; Tony ATTWOOD, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.389-403 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : Asperger's syndrome  Autism spectrum conditions  Autism spectrum disorder  Females  Gender  Girls  Symptomatology Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : The Questionnaire for Autism Spectrum Conditions (Q-ASC) was developed by Attwood et al. (2011) to identify gender-sensitive profiles of autism symptomatology; prioritise and adjust the direction of clinical interventions; and support positive psychosocial outcomes and prognosis into adulthood. The current research piloted the Q-ASC with parents of 238 children with a clinical diagnosis of ASD-Level 1 (without intellectual or language impairment). Data analysis revealed eight interpretable and reliable components of the Q-ASC using Principle components analysis. Comparisons across age and gender groups found statistically significant mean differences of parent-reported characteristics. The findings from this study aim to identify improvements in the Q-ASC towards the future assessment of the sensitivity and diversity of presentations of autism among female children and adolescents. En ligne : https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3324-9 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=337 [article] Profiling Autism Symptomatology: An Exploration of the Q-ASC Parental Report Scale in Capturing Sex Differences in Autism [texte imprimé] / S. ORMOND, Auteur ; Charlotte BROWNLOW, Auteur ; Michelle S. GARNETT, Auteur ; Agnieszka RYNKIEWICZ, Auteur ; Tony ATTWOOD, Auteur . - p.389-403. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders > 48-2 (February 2018) . - p.389-403 Mots-clés : Asperger's syndrome  Autism spectrum conditions  Autism spectrum disorder  Females  Gender  Girls  Symptomatology Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : The Questionnaire for Autism Spectrum Conditions (Q-ASC) was developed by Attwood et al. (2011) to identify gender-sensitive profiles of autism symptomatology; prioritise and adjust the direction of clinical interventions; and support positive psychosocial outcomes and prognosis into adulthood. The current research piloted the Q-ASC with parents of 238 children with a clinical diagnosis of ASD-Level 1 (without intellectual or language impairment). Data analysis revealed eight interpretable and reliable components of the Q-ASC using Principle components analysis. Comparisons across age and gender groups found statistically significant mean differences of parent-reported characteristics. The findings from this study aim to identify improvements in the Q-ASC towards the future assessment of the sensitivity and diversity of presentations of autism among female children and adolescents. En ligne : https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3324-9 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=337

Support, socialise and advocate: An exploration of the stated purposes of Facebook autism groups / Susan ABEL in Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 61 (May 2019)  

Public ISBD [article]  inResearch in Autism Spectrum Disorders > 61 (May 2019) . - p.10-21 Titre : Support, socialise and advocate: An exploration of the stated purposes of Facebook autism groups Type de document : texte imprimé Auteurs : Susan ABEL, Auteur ; Tanya MACHIN, Auteur ; Charlotte BROWNLOW, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.10-21 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : Autism  ASD  Social support  Facebook groups Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : With a rapidly growing global population of just over two billion users, Facebook has changed the way many people engage with each other. Whilst the autism community—autistic people, their families and carers, and their broader support network—are represented in this population there is limited research about how or why this community intends to use Facebook to connect and communicate. This exploratory study aimed to characterise the stated purposes of Facebook groups related to autism and their target membership. The terms autism, Asperger, ASD, Aspie, and wrong planet were used to search for Facebook groups. Using a content analysis, the group name, description, privacy status and member count of 500 autism groups on Facebook were examined. The groups had a combined membership of 905,655 English-speaking users and were created for support (60.4%), social companionship (16.4%), advocacy (15.8%), treatments (5.6%), sales (1.0%) and fundraising (0.8%). Most of the groups had a target membership of parents and families (57.4%), autistic people (23.4%), and women (10.4%). Many groups specified group etiquette (36.4%), or the geographic location of members (42.8%). Of the groups targeting autistic people, 77.8% used identity-first language, while 58.2% of groups targeting parents and families used person-first language. Separate and shared neuro-spaces appear to be negotiated within these Facebook groups and this could stimulate critical discussion around the autism community’s engagement with social media. These Facebook groups are designed to provide support to autistic people and their families and to provide social networking opportunities for autistic people. En ligne : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2019.01.009 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=385 [article] Support, socialise and advocate: An exploration of the stated purposes of Facebook autism groups [texte imprimé] / Susan ABEL, Auteur ; Tanya MACHIN, Auteur ; Charlotte BROWNLOW, Auteur . - p.10-21. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders > 61 (May 2019) . - p.10-21 Mots-clés : Autism  ASD  Social support  Facebook groups Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : With a rapidly growing global population of just over two billion users, Facebook has changed the way many people engage with each other. Whilst the autism community—autistic people, their families and carers, and their broader support network—are represented in this population there is limited research about how or why this community intends to use Facebook to connect and communicate. This exploratory study aimed to characterise the stated purposes of Facebook groups related to autism and their target membership. The terms autism, Asperger, ASD, Aspie, and wrong planet were used to search for Facebook groups. Using a content analysis, the group name, description, privacy status and member count of 500 autism groups on Facebook were examined. The groups had a combined membership of 905,655 English-speaking users and were created for support (60.4%), social companionship (16.4%), advocacy (15.8%), treatments (5.6%), sales (1.0%) and fundraising (0.8%). Most of the groups had a target membership of parents and families (57.4%), autistic people (23.4%), and women (10.4%). Many groups specified group etiquette (36.4%), or the geographic location of members (42.8%). Of the groups targeting autistic people, 77.8% used identity-first language, while 58.2% of groups targeting parents and families used person-first language. Separate and shared neuro-spaces appear to be negotiated within these Facebook groups and this could stimulate critical discussion around the autism community’s engagement with social media. These Facebook groups are designed to provide support to autistic people and their families and to provide social networking opportunities for autistic people. En ligne : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2019.01.009 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=385

The Interoception Sensory Questionnaire (ISQ): A Scale to Measure Interoceptive Challenges in Adults / L. FIENE in Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 48-10 (October 2018)  

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'We have so much to offer': Community members' perspectives on autism research / Tori HAAR in Autism, 29-9 (September 2025)  

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