5 Signs of Autistic Burnout in Children (and How to Support Recovery)

Has your child suddenly lost skills, withdrawn, or become overwhelmed by things they used to handle easily? These may be early signs of autistic burnout — a real, often-misunderstood experience for Autistic and PDA children.

In this episode, I break down what autistic burnout actually is, why it’s frequently mistaken for behavioural regression, and how you can support your child through recovery without adding more pressure to their already overloaded nervous system.

You’ll learn the core signs to watch for, what burnout feels like from the inside, and the connection-first steps that help your child return to safety, capacity, and emotional stability.

✨ In this episode:
• The 5 key signs of autistic burnout in children
• Why burnout is often mislabelled as “behaviour”
• How overwhelm, masking & chronic stress lead to shutdown
• What your child needs to recover (and what to avoid)
• How to create calm, low-demand support at home that truly helps

If your child feels “different” lately or you’re sensing something deeper than behaviour, this episode will help you understand burnout with clarity and compassion — and take the first steps toward gentle, effective support.

Chapters

• 0:00 Understanding Autistic Burnout
• 3:29 Sign 1: Loss of Skills
• 5:58 Sign 2: Increased Emotional Dysregulation
• 7:19 Sign 3: Withdrawal
• 9:49 Sign 4: Increased Sensory Overwhelm
• 11:10 Sign 5: Sleep and Appetite Changes
• 13:20 Supporting Recovery