Welcome to Tony Attwood's Website
A guide for parents, professionals and people with Asperger's Syndrome or Autism Spectrum Disorder Level 1 and their partners.
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Regular podcasts in conversation with autismhangout.com founder/reporter Craig Evans > More Info
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Read about research projects that are seeking participation and find out how to get involved > More Info
to be one of the world’s foremost experts on
Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Upcoming Events
Books by Tony Attwood
Tony has published many books about Asperger's Syndrome and Autism.
He has also co-authored and contributed to publications with other experts.
He has also co-authored and contributed to publications with other experts.
New Release Out Now
Autism Working:
A Seven-Stage Plan to Thriving at Work
By Tony Attwood and Michelle Garnett
Tony Attwood, Michelle Garnett, Julia Cook, Louise Ford, and Stefanie Runham
Attwood & Garnett Events
FOUNDED BY PROFESSOR TONY ATTWOOD & DR MICHELLE GARNETT
Dr Michelle Garnett PhD is a clinical psychologist who has specialised in autism within her own private practice for over 27 years. She has co-authored six highly regarded books on autism, five with Prof Tony Attwood. Her 2018 book with Barb Cook is a seminal work on the female presentation, Spectrum Women: Walking to the Beat of Autism. Her most recent books Having Fun with Feelings on the Autism Spectrum and Ten Steps to Reducing Your Child’s Anxiety on the Autism Spectrum provide guidance to parents of young children on the autism spectrum.
Together Tony and Michelle have created a series of online courses that are available to download. There are also webinars consisting of a series of mater classes.
Recent Articles by Tony
16 August 2023
Autism and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
Researchers and clinicians in the autism area have known about the association between hypermobility and autism for a long time, and hypermobility is one common symptom...
10 August 2023
Signs of Autism When First Meeting a Client
This blog is for clinicians, therapists, and counsellors to help identify the characteristics of autism in a client who has not previously been considered as...
10 August 2023
Relationships for Autistic women
Foundations for relationship skills
The foundations for relationship skills are created from friendship experiences throughout childhood. The skills include trust, loyalty,...
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Understanding Autistic Burnout: When the World Becomes Overwhelming![]()
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Life for autistic individuals can be challenging and filled with unique experiences and struggles that are often misunderstood by those who do not share their perspectives. Among the many challenges faced by autistic individuals, one particularly debilitating phenomenon is known as "autistic burnout." Autistic burnout is a complex and often overwhelming state that arises from the constant effort to navigate a world that may not fully accommodate or accept their neurodiversity. In this post, we will explore the autistic burnout, its triggers, signs, its profound impact on the lives of those who experience it and the role of rest.![]()
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Understanding Autistic Burnout:![]()
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Being autistic involves managing a range of stressors, including coping with social and sensory experiences, facing misunderstandings and criticism, dealing with high levels of anxiety, and struggling to be one's authentic self. Additionally, there is often a discrepancy between the expectations placed upon autistic individuals and their coping mechanisms and abilities, leading to chronic stress buildup over time. This cumulative stress can eventually result in autistic burnout, which manifests as physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion. During an autistic burnout episode, individuals may withdraw socially, almost akin to a state of 'hibernation,' and experience reduced executive functioning, with their frontal lobes metaphorically 'closed' as they await recovery.![]()
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Triggers of Autistic Burnout:![]()
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Autistic burnout can be triggered by a variety of factors that are unique to each individual, including:![]()
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1. Sensory Overload: Heightened sensory sensitivities can lead to sensory overload, causing distress and exhaustion.![]()
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2. Social Demands: Navigating complex social interactions and demands can be mentally taxing.![]()
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3. Masking/Camouflaging: The effort to conceal autistic traits in order to fit in can be emotionally draining.![]()
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4. Executive Function Challenges: Consistent and highly demanding executive function challenges can contribute to burnout.![]()
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5. High Anxiety: Elevated levels of anxiety are common among autistic individuals and can exacerbate burnout.![]()
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6. Cumulative Stress: Navigating a world that may not fully understand or accept autistic traits can lead to long-term stress accumulation.![]()
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7. Interoception difficulties: Struggles in recognising and understanding internal bodily sensations.![]()
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8. Alexithymia: Difficulty in identifying and expressing one's own emotions. ![]()
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Signs of Autistic Burnout:![]()
Recognising the signs of autistic burnout is crucial for timely intervention and support. According to Higgins et al. (2021), the provisional criteria for autistic burnout include:![]()
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1. Significant mental and physical exhaustion, often described as extreme fatigue. This profound exhaustion, the central feature of autistic burnout, is an overwhelming sense of exhaustion. It goes beyond ordinary tiredness and significantly impacts an individual's physical and emotional well-being.![]()
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2. Interpersonal withdrawal, resulting in reduced social engagement. Burnout often leads to increased social withdrawal. Autistic individuals may find it challenging to engage in social interactions during this period, opting for solitude as a means of coping.![]()
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3. One or more of the following:![]()
- Significant reduction in functioning in various areas (e.g., social, occupational, educational).![]()
- Confusion, difficulties with executive function, and/or dissociative states.![]()
- Increased intensity of autistic traits and/or reduced capacity to camouflage/mask autistic characteristics and/or reduced tolerance of stimuli. ![]()
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Associated Features:![]()
In addition to the core criteria, autistic burnout may involve:![]()
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- Low self-esteem and uncertainty about how to restore mental energy levels.![]()
- Confusion about whether the signs are indicative of clinical depression.![]()
- Loss of self-care skills and emotional regulation abilities.![]()
- Persistent difficulties with daily living skills.![]()
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Other signs may include increased sensory sensitivities, more frequent and longer-lasting meltdowns, heightened anxiety, reduced communication abilities, a decline in overall mental well-being, and an increase in physical symptoms such as digestive issues, pain, and headaches.![]()
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Duration and Impact:![]()
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The duration of an autistic burnout episode can vary widely among individuals, lasting from days to weeks or even months. Recovery times also vary, with some individuals requiring an extended period of rest and self-care to regain their functioning and overall well-being. Autistic burnout can significantly impact various aspects of an individual's life, including education, employment, relationships, and daily functioning. It may lead to difficulties meeting responsibilities, setbacks in academics or occupations, strained social interactions, and a sense of frustration and isolation.![]()
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Where to from here:![]()
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Discover a world of informative and engaging autism events at our website. We include various perspectives from clinical practice and over 80 years of supporting autistic people.![]()
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www.attwoodandgarnettevents.com![]()
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#autism #autistic #autismawareness #autismacceptance #autismfamily #autismspectrum #autismparents #NDIS #attwoodandgarnettevents #psychologist #psychology #alliedhealth #alliedhealthprofessionals #mentalhealth #depressionandanxiety #mentalhealthawareness #teachers #specialeducator #specialeducation #specialeducationalneeds #specialeducationteacher #psychiatry #EmpoweringAutisticIndividuals #InclusiveHealthcare #SupportingCommunication
Understanding the Role of Rest for Autistic Burnout![]()
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The lives of autistic individuals are often marked by unique challenges and experiences that can be difficult to grasp for those who do not share their perspectives. Within this intricate landscape of autistic life, one particularly significant challenge is what we refer to as "autistic burnout." This phenomenon is both multifaceted and overwhelming, stemming from the ongoing efforts to navigate a world that may not fully embrace or acknowledge their neurodiversity.![]()
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Diving Deeper into Autistic Burnout:![]()
Being autistic involves the management of a multitude of stressors, including coping with social and sensory stimuli, grappling with misunderstandings and criticism, dealing with heightened levels of anxiety, and striving to express one's true self authentically. Furthermore, there's often a disparity between the expectations placed upon autistic individuals and their coping mechanisms and capacities, which leads to a gradual buildup of chronic stress over time. Ultimately, this cumulative stress can manifest as autistic burnout, characterised by physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion. During autistic burnout, individuals may withdraw socially, akin to entering a 'hibernation' phase, while experiencing a decrease in executive functioning, metaphorically represented by the temporary 'closure' of their frontal lobes as they await recovery.![]()
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It's noteworthy that autistic burnout can sometimes be confused with clinical depression due to the overlap in symptoms, such as pervasive fatigue, social withdrawal, and emotional distress. However, it's imperative to differentiate between the two conditions and recognise the distinct roles of rest in their management.![]()
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1. The Significance of Rest:![]()
A fundamental divergence between autistic burnout and depression lies in the role of rest. In the context of autistic burnout, rest is not only crucial but often serves as the requirement for recovery. Individuals experiencing autistic burnout frequently require extended periods of solitude and sensory downtime to replenish their mental and emotional reserves.![]()
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2. Gradual Rejuvenation:![]()
Restorative rest plays a pivotal role in the gradual restoration of executive functioning, emotional balance, and overall well-being for autistic individuals. In contrast to depression, where active engagement in activities is emphasised, the path to recovery from autistic burnout primarily revolves around rest and self-care.![]()
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3. Potential Coexistence:![]()
In certain cases, autistic burnout may coexist with clinical depression. In such scenarios, it becomes imperative to provide both rest and additional therapeutic support to address depression-related symptoms effectively.![]()
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While rest stands as a cornerstone of recovery from autistic burnout, our forthcoming articles will explore other strategies.![]()
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Where to from here:![]()
Many autistic adults are discovering their autism for the first time in adulthood; others have navigated their lives to date with the knowledge of being autistic but are still finding new challenges in their adult lives. We created this presentation to help autistic adults understand themselves through the lens of autism, discover ideas and strategies to meet their challenges, and assist professionals involved in helping autistic adults. We draw on the latest research and our combined 80 years of experience as clinical psychologists to describe many ideas and strategies to help.![]()
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attwoodandgarnettevents.com/product/webcast-event-autistic-adults-10-november-2023/![]()
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#autism #autistic #autismawareness #autismacceptance #autismfamily #autismspectrum #autismparents #NDIS #attwoodandgarnettevents #psychologist #psychology #alliedhealth #alliedhealthprofessionals #mentalhealth #depressionandanxiety #mentalhealthawareness #teachers #specialeducator #specialeducation #specialeducationalneeds #specialeducationteacher #psychiatry #EmpoweringAutisticIndividuals #InclusiveHealthcare #SupportingCommunication
Autism and Mental Health - World Mental Health Day 2023![]()
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World Mental Health Day, observed on October 10th each year, serves as a reminder to raise awareness about mental health issues and promote mental well-being worldwide. While mental health affects people from all walks of life, it's crucial to acknowledge the unique challenges faced by autistic individuals in their mental health journey.![]()
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Autistic individuals often experience an increased prevalence of certain mental health conditions compared to their non-autistic peers. For example, these conditions include anxiety, depression, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, self-harm, and suicidal ideations or attempts. This heightened occurrence is a consequence of navigating a world that often fails to appreciate their distinctive perspectives and the impact of their different neurology on their thinking, perception, and emotional experiences. ![]()
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To our autistic community, on this World Mental Health Day, remember that your well-being matters profoundly. Recognise the unique challenges you face and the strength it takes to navigate a world that might not always understand your perspective. Take time for self-care, whether that means finding solace in sensory-friendly spaces, seeking support from understanding friends and family, or connecting with autism-friendly communities. Embrace your neurodiversity as a beautiful part of who you are, and remember that you are not alone in your journey towards mental wellness. Your unique perspective enriches our world, and it deserves the love and care you offer to others. Prioritise self-compassion and reach out for support when needed, because you are valued and cherished.![]()
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On World Mental Health Day, we must recognise that autistic individuals experience unique mental health challenges, often presenting differently. It is our collective responsibility to create an inclusive and empathetic society, offering the support needed to ensure the mental well-being of all individuals. By doing so, we can work towards a world where everyone has the opportunity to flourish mentally and emotionally.![]()
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www.attwoodandgarnettevents.com![]()
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#WorldMentalHealthDay #autism #autistic #autismawareness #autismacceptance #autismfamily #autismspectrum #autismparents #NDIS #attwoodandgarnettevents #psychologist #psychology #alliedhealth #alliedhealthprofessionals #mentalhealth #depressionandanxiety #mentalhealthawareness #teachers #specialeducator #specialeducation #specialeducationalneeds #specialeducationteacher #psychiatry #EmpoweringAutisticIndividuals #InclusiveHealthcare #supportingcommunication