this episode is part 2 of our autistic burnout series.

dr. tay is joined by patrick casale, a neurodivergent therapist, podcaster, entrepreneur, and group practice owner, for a conversation about what autistic burnout can feel like .

patrick shares his lived experience with burnout, the overlap between autistic burnout and chronic illness, the impact of societal demands, and why recovery is rarely as simple as “just reduce demands” or “take a break.”

this conversation offers both validation and practical insight for parents who are trying to better understand their child’s burnout, support recovery, and recognize early warning signs before the nervous system fully crashes.

• what autistic burnout can feel like
• why burnout can overlap with chronic illness, sleep disruption, and mental health
• how societal demands and sensory overwhelm contribute to depletion
• why reducing demands is important, but not always simple or realistic
• how joy, meaning, autonomy, and special interests can support recovery
• what parents can look for when burnout may be approaching

00:00 introduction to autistic burnout and guest

01:28 why conversations about burnout are increasing

02:44 overlap between chronic illness and autistic burnout

05:24 what autistic burnout looks like

07:12 complexity of supporting children in burnout

10:01 restructuring life to manage burnout

12:04 the impact of society and privilege

17:02 supporting children’s interests and joy

21:10 patrick’s journey to autism diagnosis

23:48 transitioning to a therapist and entrepreneur

26:16 running a neurodivergent-led practice

33:28 recognizing and responding to burnout signs

36:04 balancing demands and building capacity

37:19 final thoughts and glimmers of hope

⚡️ patrick casale’s linktree — connect with patrick, his podcasts, social media, and clinical/business resources

⚡️ Resilient Mind Counseling — Patrick’s neurodivergent-led therapy practice serving clients in North Carolina

⚡️ episode 183 — a related episode on co-occurring health conditions that can overlap with neurodivergence, including chronic illness patterns discussed in this conversation

⚡️ listen to part 1 of this series (episode 234) and stay tuned for part 3 with amanda diekman on how to support your autistic child through burnout

⚡️ EVOLVE the membership — ongoing education, monthly masterclasses, and weekly Q+A support for parents of autistic kids

⚡️ explore dr. tay’s clinical services, parent resources, and support at drtaylorday.com

⚡️ follow dr. tay on instagram @the.dr.tay for practical autism education, behind-the-scenes reflections, and parenting insights