Healing Autistic Burnout - by Sharon Kaye O'Connor (Paperback)

About the Book

Written by an autistic therapist for autistic readers, this compassionate guide offers mindfulness and self-reflective exercises to help readers overcome the symptoms of autistic burnout--including emotional overwhelm, sensory overstimulation, and mental exhaustion. With this powerful guide, readers will find neuroaffirming strategies to nurture rest and recovery, cultivate greater self-awareness and understanding, and advocate for their needs.

Book Synopsis

It's time to prioritize self-care, advocate for your needs, and heal from autistic burnout. Written by an autistic therapist for autistic readers, this compassionate guide can help you get started.

If you are autistic, you may struggle with the stress of everyday life. You might mask--or attempt to appear as neurotypical--in order to get through the day at school, work, or even with friends. The world may feel overwhelming--full of noises, smells, and textures that trigger your sensitivity. And, finally, you may feel like you are constantly bending to others' expectations, and always putting your own needs last. Is it any wonder, then, that you are experiencing burnout?

Healing Autistic Burnout offers mindfulness and self-reflective exercises to help you overcome the symptoms of autistic burnout--including emotional overwhelm, sensory overstimulation, and mental exhaustion. With this powerful guide, you will find neuroaffirming strategies to nurture rest and recovery, cultivate greater self-awareness and understanding, and advocate for your needs. You'll also find tips and tools to help you preserve your energy, stay present in the moment, improve communication with others, set boundaries when needed, and tune in to your individual needs and strengths.

With this book, you will learn:

• What to do when it feels like you've "hit the wall"
• What's causing your burnout, and how to recharge
• How to cultivate radical self-acceptance
• All about the importance of special interests--the things you are passionate about!
• How to connect with your authentic self

Autistic burnout is not a failure. It is simply a signal that things need to change. Written by an autistic psychotherapist who has been there herself, this much-needed book can help you get started--one step at a time.

Review Quotes

"Healing Autistic Burnout is a must-read. I especially like how Sharon Kaye O'Connor clearly explains the linkage between societal expectations and masking, which drains our energy and fuels burnout. As a neurodiverse clinician with decades in the field, I still learned a lot--including uplifting, practical strategies like 'dopamine dressing.' Insightful and refreshingly straightforward, Healing Autistic Burnout is an invaluable resource for autistic people, families, and professionals."
--Joshua D. Feder, MD, editor in chief of The Carlat Child Psychiatry Report; executive medical director at Positive Development; associate professor at the University of California, San Diego; and forensic autism expert

--Joshua D. Feder, MD

"Healing Autistic Burnout is a wonderful, informative book, and a lifetime companion and social and emotional support for people on the autism spectrum. It provides a window into the experiences of neurodivergent individuals, and encourages them to better navigate the world and their lives. Sharon Kaye O'Connor's personal advice and experiences, interspersed with mindful awareness and practices, make the book a universal aid for autistic individuals and for those who are nonautistic."
--Tobi Zausner, PhD, author of When Walls Become Doorways and The Creative Trance

--Tobi Zausner, PhD

"An important and helpful book, about a timely topic that isn't written about enough. Filled with sharp insights, informed by personal experience, and containing lots of practical applications, autistic readers will find this book extremely valuable."
--Chris Bonnello, autistic advocate (Autistic Not Weird), speaker, author, and former teacher

--Chris Bonnello

"Sharon combines expertise with heartfelt guidance, speaking honestly about the realities of autistic burnout while offering hope, practical tools, and a powerful reminder that neurodiversity is a strength. This isn't just a book--it's an invitation to create a future where authenticity and well-being belong to all."
--Lindsey Cohen, MS, OTR/L, neuroaffirming occupational therapist

--Lindsey Cohen, MS, OTR/L

"Sharon manages to be both understandable and informative with her observations and recommendations. I think neurodivergent and neurotypical readers alike will learn from this book to help bridge 'the language gap' that exists between neurotypes."
--Sean O'Brien, MSW, LCSW, owner of Reset Counseling, and adult discoverer of his own neurodiversity

--Sean O'Brien, MSW, LCSW

"Sharon skillfully weaves practical information about autistic burnout with her own relatable experiences. She highlights the range and depth of individual experiences of autistic burnout, while offering perspective on universal themes that help decrease shame and isolation. Sharon's clear explanations and recommendations encourage self-acceptance and self-compassion, and gently ground the reader."
--Elizabeth Donovan, PhD, psychologist and founder of Psychology for Growth

--Elizabeth Donovan, PhD

"Sharon Kaye O'Connor brings compassion, clarity, and lived experience to a topic many autistic adults know all too well. Healing Autistic Burnout helps readers make sense of exhaustion, offers practical tools, and will guide both autistic readers and the professionals who support them."
--Julie Landry, PsyD, ABPP, board-certified clinical psychologist, and cofounder of NeuroSpark Health

--Julie Landry, PsyD, ABPP

"We are increasingly aware of the causes and signs of autistic burnout, and the experiences and feelings that are endured. Fortunately, we are gradually developing strategies to end burnout, promote recovery, and reduce the likelihood of relapse. The author describes autistic burnout from her personal perspective, incorporating current research and practical guidance of value to autistic individuals and professionals. I enjoyed the explanations and advice on every page."
--Tony Attwood, PhD, clinical psychologist, adjunct professor at Griffith University, and author of numerous research papers and books on autism

--Tony Attwood, PhD

About the Author

Sharon Kaye O'Connor, LCSW, is a psychotherapist, educator, consultant, and writer in New York, NY. She is coauthor of the book, Academic and Student Affairs in Collaboration. In addition to traditional psychotherapy, Sharon is an ordained Spiritualist minister, and has trained in holistic modalities including Reiki, breathwork, energy healing, and meditation.

As an autistic clinician, Sharon writes and teaches extensively about autism--from an autistic perspective--with the mission of translating the experience into further understanding and support for the autistic community.

Foreword writer William Stillman is an award-winning author of ten books on autism and special needs parenting, including Demystifying the Autistic Experience, Empowered Autism Parenting, and his groundbreaking work Autism and the God Connection, among others. His books have been featured on The Glenn Beck Show and the NBC hit series Parenthood. Stillman has also served on several autism advisory boards, including AUTCOM (the Autism National Committee).