The most obvious difference is the fact that burnout has a definite material effect on our ability to do one particular thing – namely masking. The loss of ability to mask appears to be, for some at least, permanent. This is one of the things that makes it so damaging. As an autistic person’s ability to mask is often so fundamental in their ability to manage life, and especially work, a sudden inability to do it has the potential to rip a life apart.
