Hi all, just wanted to know what you guys think. Is it possible to become lower-functioning over time, let's say due to events in life, or something that could act as a "setback"?

I've heard about this thing called autistic burnout which sounds something like this. Sounds pretty serious and pretty permanent too, unless pro-active steps are taken to restore the functioning of the autistic person (which will be different for every autistic individual too of course).

I think I may have experienced this, all as a cumulative effect of failed social endeavours, romantic relationship endeavours and the like. All my trying to do normal things, and then failing at that, I think has had some kind of corrosive effect on my functionality. I started out as high-functioning Asperger's, but truthfully would regard myself now as somewhere mid-spectrum.

Direct evidence or manifestation thereof is going to be mostly elusive as usual, but I have noticed, over the last few years, what seems to be a definite worsening in interactions with people, social situations, and just an increasing amount of withdrawal by me from situations that might lead to social interaction. I'm starting to notice concious efforts on my part to avoid social interactions, whether it be giving someone I know a wide berth before they see me so as to avoid them, or actively seeking solitude in places that I know have nobody in them.

Bottom line is, I think my autism is getting worse. I just wanted to know if anyone else has ever experienced what seems to be a decrease in their functioning.

[sideblinded]

I know with me I tend to isolate when I feel over stimulated with my sensitivities. I know that I do this when I need to regroup and spend my mind's energy on collecting data by either reading or using visual entertainment. I would think that this burnout happens to most Aspies. It may be that your autism is not getting worse but your tolerance to the outside world may be declining as you are most probably pushing yourself rather a bit too hard and you may just be stressed. So I believe yes this phenomenon is valid. It happened to me when I was 36 years old. I just crashed and burned. I just needed a break. I don't think it meant that I was going down the spectrum, it just meant that my tolerance to the outside world was getting of shorter duration.

Thanks sideblinded. I think you're right. The thing I find is sometimes it looks like one is going backwards with regards to something, but what seems to be like going backwards might actually be progress, one just cannot see it yet. I guess these things do take time, and on a scale of three or four years, maybe I'm just seeing one portion of it through a time window, the part that looks like it's going backwards and I cannot yet see what is still to come in the next three years. I might actually be going up in functionality without realizing it.

I wonder if it is possible to move along the spectrum? Is it us that changes, or the world that changes around us? It's all relative I guess.

[sideblinded]

Originally Posted by StbGuy

Thanks sideblinded. I think you're right. The thing I find is sometimes it looks like one is going backwards with regards to something, but what seems to be like going backwards might actually be progress, one just cannot see it yet. I guess these things do take time, and on a scale of three or four years, maybe I'm just seeing one portion of it through a time window, the part that looks like it's going backwards and I cannot yet see what is still to come in the next three years. I might actually be going up in functionality without realizing it.

I wonder if it is possible to move along the spectrum? Is it us that changes, or the world that changes around us? It's all relative I guess.

I think my traits of an Aspie were much more pronounced when I was younger. I did not have as many coping skills as I do now at 57. I think the world is getting harder to live in because there are more distractions and more technology to learn and more variables to deal with but as we age we learn more strategies and skills to handle all of these stressors so we actually most probably move a little further up the spectrum.

Yes, it is very possible to "slip down" the spectrum. I think that I have done the same in some regards, especially after finishing college. Putting on the front is challenging, and eventually it gets the better of you in one way or another. Eventually, you start realizing that you need to find ways of living with the level of disability that you have. There really is no changing it. It could be possible to work on some skills and regain what you had before to some extent. However, it is likely that what you thought you had before was really somewhat of an illusion and you were never as "normal" acting as you thought.

Originally Posted by Steve223

Yes, it is very possible to "slip down" the spectrum. I think that I have done the same in some regards, especially after finishing college. Putting on the front is challenging, and eventually it gets the better of you in one way or another. Eventually, you start realizing that you need to find ways of living with the level of disability that you have. There really is no changing it. It could be possible to work on some skills and regain what you had before to some extent. However, it is likely that what you thought you had before was really somewhat of an illusion and you were never as "normal" acting as you thought.

Thanks Steve, I think you hit the nail right on the head. It's waking up one day and realizing you don't "function" like you thought you were able to function. It's funny, before the diagnosis, I thought I was pretty normal and couldn't understand why I have no friends, no girlfriend, etc.

What confuses me most is how others can "see" I'm not normal, I cannot even see it. How do they know? How do they know not to form a friendship with me or avoid me? I just don't get it, I can't see how the stuff I am saying or doing is pushing people away.

[Anonymous37919]

So how are you?

Originally Posted by Peter A

So how are you?

I'm OK I guess, was feeling pretty numb lately, but that seems to be changing again.

[CrewCut]

Hope you are feeling better Stb. I really appreciate all the help you have given me here.

[Anonymous37919]

Well CrewCut, your name makes me think of The Crew-Cuts. They were a Canadian doo-wop band.



So anyway, StbGuy, I assume you saw my last thread and how things still ain't right for me. I've actually ran off. There was a court date all set, but then the pigs alarmed me and so I ran away. They wanted to question me over old stuff.

Fortunately, the sheriff understood as my mother, sister and Stuart my advocate attended. But the downside is, I still had to be in court, so I must be arrested this upcoming week. I've actually breached the Community Payback Order even further.

You see, Sara left Autism Initiatives and I got rather upset, again. After this, I contacted Joanna and Sara's partner. After all, this crap I went through was all for her and Joanna, but it has all amounted to nothing now. Right?

Originally Posted by Peter A

Well CrewCut, your name makes me think of The Crew-Cuts. They were a Canadian doo-wop band.



So anyway, StbGuy, I assume you saw my last thread and how things still ain't right for me. I've actually ran off. There was a court date all set, but then the pigs alarmed me and so I ran away. They wanted to question me over old stuff.

Fortunately, the sheriff understood as my mother, sister and Stuart my advocate attended. But the downside is, I still had to be in court, so I must be arrested this upcoming week. I've actually breached the Community Payback Order even further.

You see, Sara left Autism Initiatives and I got rather upset, again. After this, I contacted Joanna and Sara's partner. After all, this crap I went through was all for her and Joanna, but it has all amounted to nothing now. Right?

Aahh man, I hope you're OK! Sounds terrible! Unfortunately yeah, I think it all pretty much amounted to nothing, because they had already made their minds up. Sometimes you just have to realize people have a pre-decided thing in their heads and they will believe it, until they are perhaps proven wrong one day, and even then, they probably won't admit it, pride will stop them from admitting it. I think these women had this same notion. Best to move on from them mate, make a clean break. Maybe the skipping court thing wasn't such a good idea, I dunno bro.