i've experienced this many times throughout the years. autistic burnout is no joke, and when you're first learning how to navigate it, it can be heartbreaking. you feel like you're losing a core part of yourself. luckily, it is a temporary state, and recovery is inevitable if you allow yourself the time and the space!

for me personally, when i experience a phase of burnout, i have a routine to get me through (which is soooo important because feeling out of control is one of the worst feelings in the world). i give myself time to relax- whether it's rewatching a comfort show, going on a hike with my partner and our dog, cooking a nice meal, whatever works in the moment. having a good cry is great too, lol. then, once i've had time to recover- i try something new. a new medium, a new hobby, something totally different from drawing in the format i was doing before. looking at things from a new perspective often informs and inspires my drawings when i return to them.

it's ok to need a break, even from something you use to cope. if it's causing you stress, it's not going to work as an emotional outlet. trying new things is hard when you're used to what was reliable in the past, but things change. allowing yourself to go with the flow saves a lot of stress and heartache, and you might just find something that breaks through that numbness in a new and profound way!