Autism and Fatigue?

Post Reply New Topic

Is fatigue common in autistic people? Might chores that most "normal" people do, like raking, be very fatiguing for someone who is autistic?

Can only speak for myself and one other person .Yes ....but there is a chance the fatique can be changed somewhat.
It is why Aspies often refer to their energy/ functional levels in increments of Spoons . it is a significant problem.
And the constant pushing oneself can lead to other issues ..it is important to put limits on anykind of stress levels.
Often Aspies have no clue about adrenal fatigue. Then many ,might do too much !.... and many low level allergic reactions to their environment . Caused by a potentially hyperactive immune system that is Working overtime.That Adds to things that add to fatigue levels . Guess just maybe alittle fatiqued .

Depends on individual factors.

If there are aspies that are out of shape or just do not have the habit to take them; not inclined to do physical activities or try a active lifestyle.

If there are aspies that are, even if they're in shape and with the appropriate habits; their senses, feelings or their minds are more fragile or easily overwhelmed, likely either not or not easily accommodated.
This is usually the most known source of exhaustion amongst autistics.

If there are aspies that are fit and do not have sensory issues, but has either a learning, behavioral or a primary executive dysfunction issues to contend which is something simple made unnecessary complicated or impossible (ADHD, certain learning disabilities...), made building habits impossible thus more effort needed and even the mundane can tire them.
This includes rapid task switching and certain levels of cognitive load or/and subtle multitasking if there are no known co-occuring condition.

If there are aspies that are struggling with other conditions to start with; mental illness, chronic illness, etc.
It can range from fighting depression or wasted mental energy overthinking due to anxiety, to just flat out being unhealthy that chores aren't relaxing/helping/etc.

Gained Number Post Count (1).
Lose Time (n).

Lose more time here - Updates at least once a week.

^^^^^^^^^^. Well Written. ^^^^^^^^^^^

Some days, after I work, I go straight to bed. Dealing with the world is enough to tired me, then co-workers, Idiot Managers, and traffic. That's more than enough to tire me out.

I'm sick to death of chores like washing dishes and doing laundry, but I think it's because I'm just lazy and unmotivated.
When I was young I got into fights with my mom a lot over not doing chores. And when I had to live in a group home I fly into rages from the chores they gave us to do every day. And if we overslept they'd threaten us with extra chores, which were the really unpleasant ones like picking up all the cigarette butts off the ground (almost everyone else at the home was a heavy smoker).

I eventually got better at doing the chores, but the thought of cleaning every inch of my apartment is... I just can't.

I don't seem to get undue physical fatigue from physical labour, apart from that which is explicable by my age and somewhat sedentary lifestyle.

As for mental fatigue, I'm not sure. In a way, every mental task is hard for me, but that's probably because I have a compulsion to do everything perfectly. And it amazes me how long I can work at mental tasks before being unable to go on. But certain tasks I find myself strongly compelled to abandon. Don't know whether that's because I sense they'll tire me out or because I feel they'll bore me or be otherwise uncomfortable. Even there, once I've got really my teeth into a task, it gets hard to stop. But I don't know that I'm not burning myself out.

When I was younger I used to get more tired. I don't know why. But it went away.

I evinced chronic fatigue as a kid but always assumed it was related to chronic joint pain due to hEDS. It never occurred to me until recently that it could have multiple causes.

I have ME/CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) so I am always exhausted, but I don't know if it has anything to do with my mild ASD traits. I don't think so.

Funny thing , my Doctor had a very hard time getting my insurance to pay on Myalgic Encephelomyelitis. Seems the USA doesn't like that diagnosis . Think the Beef Industry lobby is strong on this one ,With FDA and bought off many congressmen imho.....Don't think the AMA likes that Dx. either .

Maybe or it's more likely caused by a nutrient deficiency like iron (Anemia)

That is an easy fix, just eat more iron-rich foods or get an IV infusion to restore the iron levels to their optimal state!

When I worked full time I could "recharge"by raking leaves when I got home!
At least for me that wasn't fatiguing.

Now that I'm retired if the weather is nice can spend a full day outside working on my garden.

Chores doesn't exhaust me.
Nor does socializing. Because I don't mask nor have an image to maintain while socializing.


But demand of time, transition and the pressure of rushing against my own pace can drain me.
Sometimes the uncertainty or the lack of clarity of said tasks -- if I don't understand the task, I may never start.
I can work with a lot of effort over nothing all because of some misinterpretion.

On top of sensory stressors...
I don't even need an intense environment to overwhelm me; unfortunately, my body will be very disruptive whether it's a subtle hormonal shift, or a very sudden sensation of clogged nose and sneezing fits that may not stop for hours every few seconds to minutes.

Sometimes I enjoy laborious work.
Provided that there's no deadline and there's no time pressure.
Or if it does, it is more than enough time to go around with.

I've yet to master ways on how I truly slow myself down in amidst of rushing so I don't ended up perceiving time too fast, deceptively faster and effortful -- actually making myself slower and drain myself faster.


Yet I don't know how to solve the language processing issue other than annoy the frick out of whoever the task master was.

I don't mind screwing up.
But it gets really annoying and frustrating if it's coming from a problem that's consistently gave me scenarios of care and effort only to get punished or disappointment from repeatedly signs that it's remained unsolved problem.


If the chores (assuming said chores are simple) are coming from me and me alone, and never from someone else, I got no excuses unless it conflicts with schedules or just overall with someone else as a factor.


If I have a reliably working executive function, I will never have this particular issue. At all. In any way of form.
Not even sensory. Not even socializing. Not even language processing issues.
Definitely not the cognitive load, the issues around judgment and intuitive decision making issues.

Gained Number Post Count (1).
Lose Time (n).

Lose more time here - Updates at least once a week.