Autistic Burnout

There is never enough time

Not for the adequate rest I need

Not to clean my home of dust and grime

Not for the work tasks I try to succeed.

*

Each day I try just to keep up with life

I’ve given up on getting ahead

Every morning has someone new in strife

Will this be every day until I’m dead?

*

Lists upon lists of things that need doing

Even relaxing requires a timetabled plan

So rather than doing, I sit stewing

Frozen and scrolling, I can't even say I began

*

Prioritise, they say, get on with the worst,

Then it's just the little ones left to do.

But I find it better to do the little tasks first

Tiny wins carry me the rest of the way through

*

Recharge on the weekend, like solar panels in sun,

But often I have less than a day

Days off are for things that need to be done

And any help requires some kind of pay

*

Understanding comes slowly, and pushback abounds

Perhaps one day I won't need justification

For why I am as I am, need as I need, however it sounds

Perhaps one day we won't need representation.

April is Autism Awareness Month. For the love of god, DO NOT plaster your profile with puzzle pieces, or donate to Autism Speaks.

Instead, talk to Autistic people, especially adults, because half the world seems to think that only kids can have Autism.

Istead of saying "well, that doesn't match the one Autistic person I know...", learn about the concept of a Spectrum. (The Autism Spectrum is more like one of those fancy DJ soundboards, anyway)

No Autistic person experiences Autism mildly. YOU experience THIER Autism mildly, and you have no idea how much effort that takes.