I tweeted this out yesterday and I am still feeling the same way today.
Explaining it to people is devastatingly hard. I commend the attempt at understanding but unless you’ve experienced it yourself, you never know. For me, the exhaustion kicks in, both mentally and physically. The light sensitivity happens and being able to see gets increasingly difficult. Trying to be social is virtually impossible and continues to drain energy that is barely left. I get goosebumps, I physically look ‘drained’. My attempt at tasks that require my fine motor skills becomes a course in ‘how many times can I fail?’
Autistic burnout isn’t a made up thing- I just wish it was easier to explain to people. It’s not an excuse and it’s not like I consciously (or unconsciously) decided to be perceived as lazy or unreliable. There’s such thing as ‘too much’ and I feel as though that’s where i’m at.
This happens to me, and i’ve documented it before:
Navigating Life 
I’m crawling out of a total Shutdown / burnout myself so I feel you hon. Be kind to yourself and try to take the time you need to find your way back. *hugs and commiseration*
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One of the things that made me have an ah ha moment regarding the possibility of being autistic was when my best friend (whose husband is autistic) was describing burnout. I thought “this is me, right now. This explains SO MUCH.”
And trying to get the help I need to get through it has been horrible.
Just, do what you need to get through it.
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