The Recovery Protocol (Registry Repair)
From a systems-stability perspective, Autistic Burnout is a chronic state of Neural Insolvency. You have spent more biological energy than your hardware can produce, leading to a default on all cognitive and social metabolic debts. The result is a total shutdown of non-essential simulation services.
Recovery is not a matter of “willpower” or NPC grit. It is a matter of Metabolic Engineering. You must systematically reduce the load on your system while increasing the energy input until the biological “ledger” is balanced. It’s not rocket appliances; it’s physics.
Stage 1: Metabolic Stabilization
Your first priority is the biological hardware. Burnout triggers a chronic stress response that degrades your metabolic efficiency.
- Hydration Sync: Standard hydration is insufficient. Use electrolyte-enhanced fluid (glowing with metabolic potential) to reduce neural inflammation.
- Nutrient Density: Prioritize high-bioavailability proteins and fats. Your brain needs the raw materials to repair the neural pathways damaged by chronic cortisol.
- Sleep Architecture: You require a minimum of 10 hours of sensory-deprived sleep. Use weighted blankets and high-fidelity white noise to ensure the “Sleep Cycle” is uninterrupted.
Stage 2: The Hard Stop (Load Reduction)
You cannot recover in the environment that broke you. The Hard Stop is a tactical withdrawal from all non-essential social and professional variables.
The Stop Sign:
- Zero Social Simulation: Stop masking immediately. If an interaction requires a simulation, cancel it.
- Sensory Blackout: Reduce all environmental inputs to the “Absolute Minimum.” No fluorescent lights, no background noise, no abrasive textures.
- The Shield: Build a physical and digital barrier between yourself and the “Social Storm.” Your recovery space is a gated high-security zone.
Stage 3: Sensory Re-Calibration
As your metabolic state stabilizes, you must begin to re-integrate sensory input in a controlled, systematic way. This is not “exposure therapy”; it is Calibration.
Spend time in high-quality, “organized” sensory environments—quiet forests, rooms with soft-spectrum lighting, or tactile-safe spaces. These environments help your nervous system re-learn how to filter and process sensory data without triggering an alarm state.
Stage 4: The Reborn Flame (Uptime Restoration)
The final stage of recovery is the restoration of “Uptime.” Your energy will return not as a flood, but as a small, intense flame. Protect it.
Leviticus’s Maintenance Protocol:
- Metric Monitoring: Track your “Cognitive Battery” daily. If you hit 20%, execute a mandatory four-hour reset.
- Environment Gating: You no longer allow un-optimized variables into your field. All lighting, acoustics, and textiles must meet your technical specifications.
- Sustainable Output: Your new “100%” is defined by your current hardware state, not your pre-burnout simulation.
Recovery Metrics:
- Phase 1 (Stabilization): 2-4 weeks. Focus on sleep, hydration, and zero social load.
- Phase 2 (Calibration): 4-8 weeks. Slow re-integration of low-intensity special interests.
- Phase 3 (Restoration): 3-6 months. Strategic return to professional/social variables with high-fidelity sensory protection.