unhealthy coping fucking sucks. i hear you.

Shutdown/burnout is very common for autism.

To commiserate: my entire energy reserve is taken up just by going to and from work and extra chores leave pits in my stomach from stress, so I also do a lot of nothing outside of my bare survival responsibilities.

Decompressing by lowering your sensory input isn’t a bad thing, but if it’ll help you feel better to do something else maybe find a low-stimulus sedentary “activity” like a craft or drawing or listening to music or whatever strikes your fancy. Do the barest minimum, then consciously give yourself time to “unsqueeze” your brain and body without guilt. Recovery is not a sin.

Don't assume it's autism. If how you're living your life isn't working get professional help. There's so much overlap with mental health issues that self diagnosing can lead to the wrong conclusion and interventions that don't work.

Whether or not autism plays any role here, this sounds like depression-related behaviour.

YouTube videos all day will keep your dopamine reserves low. Best tip I can offer is to let yourself become bored instead and then use that feeling to propel you to do things away from your screens.

it happens.

not sure i'm the right one for suggestions. i usually try to do different stuff to evade the mood. go out, feed the crows, go to the store. sports. i guess chronic pain helps me get stuff done because when i don't get up for too long the pain gets unbearable

sounds more like depression to me.