TABLE 1.

Operational definitions of the manifestations of burnout, inertia, meltdown, and shutdown (BIMS) as described by autistic informants of earlier research.

Burnout	Described as a distinct source of severe and chronic exhaustion (Raymaker et al., 2020; Welch et al., 2020b). Autistic bloggers highlighted that the causes of this severe exhaustion are uniquely autistic such as “masking” – the constant need to exhibit appropriate behaviors to complete everyday tasks (Welch et al., 2020b). Informants have explained that this burnout often results in depletion of skills and intolerance to varying stimuli (Raymaker et al., 2020)
Inertia	A prolonged mental state of being “stuck” resulting in the physical inability to engage in activities that the individual wishes to do. Autistic individuals describe the experience of autistic inertia to vary in severity, duration of time and rate of repetition, however, all agree that when it does occur, it has the potential to be debilitating (Welch et al., 2020b)
Meltdown	A phenomenon with varying expressions by which autistic informants feel entirely overwhelmed accompanied by a lack of control and cumulative stress (Welch et al., 2020b). Meltdowns elicit responses of outward anxiety and energy outpour (Schaber, 2014). Some factors that contribute to a meltdown include, but are not limited to: social demands, frustration, embarrassment, challenges with communication, emotional triggers, and overwhelming aversive sensory stimuli (Welch et al., 2020b).
Shutdown	Although similar to meltdowns, shutdowns present as more internal experiences, where the individual withdraws from their surroundings and is accompanied by emotional pain (Belek, 2018). The degree to which one can function during a shutdown ranges from mild (e.g., being able to walk around and talk) to severe (e.g., feeling detached from your limbs and going into a fetal position) (Belek, 2018).