Using Energy Counting

It can be helpful to think of your child's energy levels as a rechargeable battery. Their battery can become drained during the day through regular activities at school and sensory experiences. One-off activities such as a medical appointment or party might also be draining. When energy levels get too low, your child is more likely to experience burnout.

Some things might recharge the battery, such as hobbies or listening to music and spending time doing these things can restore your child's energy levels.

The concept of a battery might be something that your child finds easier to understand - if they are familiar with charging a battery on a phone you could use that as an example to help explain.

Make a list of things that charge and drain your child's battery, if possible with your child. It might be easier to start with the things that recharge.

Rate each activity according to how much energy it uses or restores, for example out of 10 or out of 100. Once you have done this you can start to plan how you are going to keep their battery from becoming drained. Organise their activities so that their day is balanced between activities which drain them and those which restore them.

Recovering From Burnout

If your child has experienced autistic burnout, it's important to allow them to rest and give them time to recover.

This might mean reducing some activities they have scheduled, such as clubs and sports activities. Focus on activities that allow them to re-energise and make adjustments so your child has time to recover.

Self-Soothe Box

Some neurodivergent young people can benefit from having a self-soothe box filled with sensory aids to help them regulate and recover after periods of stress. They can be a useful coping mechanism for anyone of any age and can be fully personalised to your child's sensory preferences. 

Simply find a container like a shoe box or drawstring bag and select items to put inside. The items could:

• Trigger positive memories, like photographs or souvenirs
• Have sensory properties, like fiddle toys or tactile items
• Include a snack like chocolate, or strong mints to help calm or alert your child's senses
• Involve relaxing scents or aromas, like candles or essential oils

Find out how to make a self-soothe box here

Unmasking

Masking, or hiding their autism, can be exhausting for your child. The effort of constantly trying to fit in and worrying about their behaviour can be extremely draining.

It is important to allow your child to have some time when they can act naturally. At school, they might try to contain their stimming behaviour, so allow them some time at home when they can stim freely and can feel comfortable doing so.

It might be helpful for them to spend some time with other autistic people who communicate in the same way, so that it feels like a safe environment for them to unmask in.

Speak to your child's school and see if any adjustments can be made to help your child - if they have masked their autism well, the school might not have felt it necessary to make adjustments for them. 

Making Small Changes to Help Your Child

It is important to understand that what might cause autistic burnout will be unique to your child. Here are some ideas that you may want to explore:

• Giving your child a quiet place where they can go when they feel overwhelmed like an indoor den or a corner of the room set up with objects which support their sensory profile.
• Creating a visual timetable to place in your home to provide some structure and predictability. 
• Making small adjustments to the home such as lighting to help reduce sensory input.
• Using other items, such as ear defenders or headphones.