Autistic burnout is a common experience, yet it is vastly understudied. There are very few studies that explore autistic burnout and the way that burnout presents uniquely in the autistic community. This study undertook a thematic analysis of social media users posts regarding autistic burnout to better understand the construct.

The participants in this study included adults who had shared posts about autistic burnout on Twitter and Wrong Planet. Many themes were discovered in the analysis, and an overarching theme was insufficient awareness of autism which led to negative expereinces among autistic people, ultimately leading to autistic burnout.

Some other themes that were uncovered in this analysis include negative stereotypes and stimga surrounding autism, which led many to try to pass as being non-autistic. Autistic burnout was viewed as a chronic and recurring condition that had effects on mental health and well-being. In some cases, autistic burnout led to positive outcomes such as improved self-awareness, self-care, self-esteem, and confidence in self-advocacy skills.

Participants also shared about their complex relationship with masking, as masking was seen as something that contributed to burnout but also something that people relied on. People tried to find a balance between living authentically and the stigma of showing autistic traits.

This research also built on previous research that showed a strong relationship between autistic burnout and suicidality. More research is needed to determine the exact nature of this relationship.