Navigating Neurodivergent Energy Systems and Burnout
Our body and mind operate on a complex energy system, one that can be conceptualized as a series of different physical batteries. For neurodivergent individuals, understanding these distinct power sources is not merely a helpful metaphor but a crucial framework for sustainable living. Think of it this way: you are not powered by one single battery but by an interconnected array of them, each requiring different charging methods and depleting at different rates.
The first is your alkaline AA battery. This is the energy for daily tasks, the mundane obligations of life like doing dishes or answering routine emails. For a neurodivergent person, this battery often has a very low capacity. It drains with astonishing speed under the weight of executive function demands and sensory processing. What might be a minor drain for a neurotypical nervous system can completely exhaust this cell before the day has even begun.
The second is your reliable lithium ion battery. This is the energy source for deep engagement, such as healthy activation in a special interest or hyperfocus on a passionate work project. When this battery is engaged, it feels limitless. It provides a steady, high output of flow and concentration. It is a powerful and renewable source, but it is not infinite. It requires a specific type of engagement to activate and can be depleted by external interruptions or internal pressure.
The final, most profound power source is your deep cell marine battery. This is your core reserve for basic functioning, your foundational capacity to simply be. It powers your ability to regulate your nervous system, manage emotions, and engage in self care. Chronic burnout is the state where all batteries are dead, but most critically, this deep cell reserve is completely drained. It is an inability to function at all, a systemic shutdown caused by consistently drawing from this core reserve without ever replenishing it.
The path to well being can be one of energy management. It requires auditing your activities to understand which battery they drain. It means creating non-negotiable rituals to recharge each specific cell. The AA battery might recharge with short sensory breaks or body doubling. The lithium ion battery recharges through intentional, guilt-free immersion in a special interest. The deep cell marine battery is the most sacred; it is replenished only through true rest, somatic practices that regulate the nervous system, and a compassionate acceptance of your own neurological needs.
By honoring this battery system, you can move from a cycle of burnout to a practice of sustainable energy, empowering a more vibrant and authentic life.
