Recharge

You’re allowed to recharge. The real you is worth knowing. 🔋

Recharge is a research-informed workbook for autistic teens. It helps young people understand masking, track their energy, spot the early signs of autistic burnout, recover with rest and support, and find safe ways to be themselves.

Lots of autistic teens describe the same thing: holding it together all day, then crashing when they get home. Feeling exhausted in a way sleep doesn’t fix. Not quite knowing who they are underneath the act. Recharge gives that experience a name and a plan.

WHAT’S INSIDE (66 pages, 8 sections)

♾️ 1. Autistic & Proud – Your Autistic Brain, Monotropism: The Interest Tunnel, The Double Empathy Problem, My Autistic Strengths, My Sensory World

🎭 2. Understanding Masking – What Is Masking?, Why We Mask, My Masking Map, What Masking Gives & Costs, The After-School Crash, Who Am I Underneath?, Safe People Safe Places

🔋 3. Your Energy Battery – Energy Accounting, My Energy Drains, My Recharges, My Daily Energy Budget, My Weekly Energy Plan, My Social Battery, Change & Transitions

🪫 4. Spotting Burnout – What Is Autistic Burnout?, Bad Day Meltdown Shutdown or Burnout?, My Warning Lights, My Life Load Check, Burnout or Something Else?, My Burnout Timeline

🌱 5. Rest & Recovery – What Helps Recovery, Rest That Actually Rests (six kinds of rest), Special Interests as Fuel, My Sensory Comfort Kit, My Low-Demand Day Plan, Asking for Fewer Demands, The Gentle Return Ladder

🦋 6. Being Yourself – Unmasking at Your Own Pace, Speaking Up: Scripts That Help, Adjustments at School, Telling People I’m Autistic, My Communication Passport, Boundaries & Saying No

🗺️ 7. Your Recharge Plan – My Burnout Prevention Plan, My Support Team, My Hard-Day Plan, A Letter to Future Me, Looking Back

🧰 8. The Toolkit – Weekly Energy Tracker, Monthly Energy Calendar, Masking Diary and cut-out Energy Cards for when words are hard

Plus a My Energy Snapshot starting point, a For Trusted Adults page, a Where to Get Help page of UK support services, and a full reference list.

WHY TEENS, FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS VALUE IT

✔ Built on published research into masking and autistic burnout, with sources listed
✔ Honest about the evidence: it says where an idea comes from the autistic community and where research in teens is still emerging
✔ Neurodiversity-affirming, with identity-first language; being autistic is a difference, not a defect
✔ Treats masking as a survival skill that makes sense, never as something to feel ashamed of
✔ Unmasking is always at the teen’s own pace and only where it’s safe
✔ “Share it” pages for school and family, including adjustments and a communication passport
✔ Fill it in on screen or print it out, and reprint trackers as often as you like

PERFECT FOR

• Autistic teens aged 12–18, diagnosed, newly diagnosed or still working it out

• Teens who mask at school and crash at home

• Teens in or recovering from autistic burnout, including those struggling to attend school

• Parents and carers

• SENCos, pastoral staff, therapists, mentors and support workers

WHAT YOU GET

• 1 fillable PDF file, 66 pages, A4

• Instant digital download, so no physical item will be posted

PLEASE NOTE

This workbook supports self-understanding and conversation. It is not a diagnostic tool or treatment. Burnout and depression can overlap, so if you’re worried about a young person’s mental health or safety, contact your GP, NHS 111 or, in an emergency, 999. Written in UK English with UK support services listed.

© 2026 The SEN Advocate. For personal and educational use only. Not for resale or redistribution.