Sometimes I don’t realize how challenging being autistic can be. It causes me to be exhausted and burnt out. Even with medication and being grounded and stable, it takes a lot. It also requires patience with me and having grace for myself and others.

It has taken me some time to understand how overwhelming autism is for me. In the grand scheme of things, it can be challenging. Adapting to life’s demands is hard, especially when considering autism’s role in my daily life. By the weekend, needing regulation can bring me down, especially after an overwhelming week.

Even if it’s hard, it’s crucial to remember the necessity of self-care. I must do whatever it takes to make that happen. In the past, I’ve neglected the important things that make life good for me. These things are in place for a reason and have been proven to work for decades. It’s understandable that mistakes happen and we’re all human. Still, it’s crucial to get back on track. I must not take deliberate actions that are pointless and destructive as I have done in the past.

I have had to learn when moments of burnout arise. Besides my need to take care of my mental health, I must be kind to myself. Making caring for myself as a whole also a priority is important. It can seem hard when we feel robbed of what autism takes from us. It happens through no fault of our own. Sometimes, we must be willing to accept what is and understand why things are the way they are. It can sometimes seem unfair. For too long, I have thrown pity parties for myself, feeling as if life was unfair. I also understand that autism isn’t always an easy thing to bear. We’ll get nowhere if we’re hard on ourselves and make things bigger issues than they are.

I get burnout, but that doesn’t excuse me from staying well. I must do what is necessary to stay well. Staying well is crucial and expected of so many for me to do. I have learned its importance the hard way. If I don’t stay well, I feel horrible and go down a path I no longer want to follow. Just like the things I’ve let go, which were bringing me down, I must understand burnout. It’s a part of autism and life. I must understand and accept it will happen. It won’t be a big issue if I do what’s right and necessary for me. I must take care of myself as soon as I can.