Emotional labor is often talked about in relation to employees at work or wives with their husbands. More recently, it’s also discussed in relation to race and ethnicity.
Rarely do I ever see it associated with
- neurodiversity, like autism, and especially not DID
- chronic illness
- disability
- sexual orientation/gender identity
- trauma
- masking
So this post is about that.
This post is either going to be organized or super unorganized, depending on your preferences. I don’t have the energy required to put in the effort to organize everything because that, in and of itself, requires emotional labor and autistic burnout has me fatigued.
What is emotional labor?
Emotional labor is the mental and emotional work performed to
- educate people about that which makes us unique
- maintain relationships (platonic, intimate, acquaintances, etc.)
- advocate & care for ourselves + living environment
- manage our emotions and expressions
It looks like calculating how much energy one has to deal with other things throughout the day — whether that’s spoons, forks, sporks or just a freaking battery.
Emotional labor is unpaid work that requires energy. Delivering too much emotional labour in a short period of time leads to something called compassion fatigue.
Examples of emotional labor
People from marginalized groups, and women, are expected to provide emotional labor most often. In hetero marriages, wives often have to manage the home and remind their husbands of things that their husbands don’t think about because society doesn’t expect them to.
Emotional labor is exhausting, though not always. I perform emotional labor when I write blog posts educating people about my disabilities or neurodivergence, which often leaves me feeling like a broken record because I have to repeat myself so much.
I think the worst part is when allistics and autistic people who consider themselves superior because they’re “not that autistic” comment with their criticisms on those posts.
Or when people completely misunderstand the posts.
When in person, non-autistic people often try to psychoanalyze me and ask me questions with the expectation that I explain everything to them thoroughly so they will understand. This is emotional labor.
I’ve walked away from people mid-sentence because I ran out of energy to explain the why, what, how, etc. about something pertaining to me that I was tired of explaining to people. The issue isn’t always a matter of that specific person I was talking to at the time; it’s more that, again, I have to repeat myself over and over.
I think this is one of the reasons I love blogging so much — instead of reiterating, I can just…link to that post. I often wish I could link people to posts offline. I’ve tried telling them before, by messaging them links, to no avail.
I don’t want to read it. I want you to tell me face to face.
When people tell me this, it leaves us at an impasse. I don’t have the energy to go over everything all over again. I’ve already explained it too many times. I don’t care, and I don’t care much for people who don’t care to meet me where I am.
I’m much too tired from all this emotional work.
Emotional labor includes problem-solving
Allistic people often expect autistic people to solve every problem themselves. Able-bodied people expect this, too, of disabled people.
Okay, so if that’s an issue, then what’s the solution?
I don’t know, Calliope — how about you form a team of autistic and non-autistic people to help figure that out? And pay them?
As soon as I share about a systemic issue, people start coming to me for the solutions, causing me to feel the weight of the world on my shoulders. Expressing my boundary that is me not trying to save everyone in favor of caring for myself — because my job is to keep myself alive, not to save the world — returns isht like, “Then why are you saying it’s a problem if you’re not going to offer up a solution?”
Able-bodied people will legit say crap like, “Don’t complain about anything you’re not willing to change,” and then get upset when disabled people ask for accommodations.
What even is complaining anymore? Because from my point of view, expressing my needs is perceived as complaining. Asking for accommodations is considered complaining. Stating my disability or saying I can’t do something is automatically labelled complaining.
When a disabled or neurodivergent person is perceived as “complaining”, they’re actually perceived as being “unwilling” to do something.
It’s just another form of ableism.
And I’m too tired to perform the emotional labor required to explain all of that — especially when, too often, people continue to perceive the literal labor of emotional work as a form of complaining.
Too many people want the free emotional labor without whatever change it brings.
An allistic once told me that, because I’m autistic, my job is to educate people on autism. “If you want people to listen to you, then you need to teach them. Otherwise, what’s the point of your autism?”
Um…I’m autistic because I’m autistic. Why do I have to make it my passion, too?
It’s all a bloody circle that goes around and around and around.
Emotional labor is exhausting AF
Constantly having to communicate my needs is so exhausting that I often choose to instead manage the discomfort of not having them. People who don’t have the same needs as me are quick to label my needs as “stupid”, “lazy” or “a waste of time” — or worse: they choose to challenge them instead.
There is also the connotation that, if I’m capable of advocating for my own specific needs/accommodations, then how disabled am I really?
Disabled people aren’t only having to communicate their needs — they’re having to educate people on why they need those accommodations in the first place…only to be told that they need third parties to argue their case.
Able-bodied people are so hung up on ableism that they think disabled people are attempting to take away their rights or feel entitled to “more” rights.
I know I’m an afterthought. I know people hate providing trigger warnings and think flash warnings are “dumb” and that flashing lights are “not that big of a deal”. Managing my emotions about is requires emotional labor.
“Then just don’t watch it” is often a response to me commenting on someone’s vertical video (like a Reel or TikTok) or ad about how they should have provided a trigger warning or chosen a different effect — like I had the ability to not scroll onto that video or see that ad.
As much as I love her, Taylor Swift’s era tour documentary trailer has a lot of flashing, a reminder to me that I can’t go to her concerts or see her doc in theaters because there might be flashing lights that I won’t be able to escape safely.
Something like that, someone might recommend finding or asking for accommodations.
Same with accommodations at the workplace — like it’s as simple as saying you need accommodations.
It’s not.
Not asking for accommodations is often much, much easier and sucks away less energy.
I’m not exhausted because I’m depressed. I’m exhausted due to the toll of emotional labor.
Wanting emotional labor for free
Lately, I comment,
“This is ableist. Maybe someone else who has the energy to perform the emotional labor for free will come explain it to you. Otherwise, you can google [term] to find out why.”
to which people respond,
“Then why comment at all?”
to which I reply,
“Because I gave them the term to search and educate themselves. If they can’t, then they don’t care. 🤷♀️ If you don’t care or understand, look up emotional labor.”
Again, broken record — too many issues/things/situations are things myself and many other autistic/disabled people have explained time and time AGAIN.
It’s soooo exhausting.
And everyone wants it for free!
This dude on Facebook wanted me to message him and maybe even video chat so we could “have a discussion” 🙄 where he asked me questions about allistic privilege and I answered them. I sent him a message to my Ko-Fi and said that I’d be available to do that at $25/hr.
He replied,
“WTF? I’m not going to pay you just to talk to you. People like you are exactly what’s wrong with your generation. You can’t have a civilized discussion without wanting to get paid for…what? Sitting around and having a chat?”
I guess I’m just tired of the entitlement.
I’m tired of answering questions and educating people.
However, I can’t not educate people about neurodiversity or disabilities, because sharing my story and talking about my experiences helps people who don’t relate develop empathy.
Tips to stop taking on more emotional labor
Setting boundaries, managing expectations and prioritizing your well-being is how you stop yourself from taking on more emotional labor than necessary.
1. Define your limits
- Identify your emotional capacity. Reflect on what you have the energy and bandwidth for in your relationships.
- Be clear on what’s yours vs. theirs. Remind yourself that you aren’t responsible for solving others’ problems or regulating their emotions.
- Set boundaries ahead of time. Know what you will and won’t take on before situations arise.
2. Communicate your boundaries clearly
- Use “I” statements. “I can’t be available right now.”
- Be direct and kind. A simple explanation is enough.
- Practice saying no. “I can’t take this on right now.”
3. Detach from over-attachment
- Recognize other people’s autonomy. Other people are responsible for their choices and how they handle their emotions.
- Let go of fixing. You can be supportive without offering solutions. Try “I’m here to listen” instead of “here’s what you should do”.
4. Use emotional checkpoints
- Pause and reflect. When you feel overwhelmed, ask yourself.
- “Is this mine to carry?”
- “Am I overstepping my limits?”
- “Am I trying to control or fix something that’s not my responsibility?”
- Adjust as needed. If you answer “yes” to any of these, step back.
5. Prioritize self-care
- Schedule downtime. Protect your time for rest and personal interests to recharge.
- Seek emotional support from trusted friends or professionals instead of carrying everything on your own.
- Honor your needs by prioritizing your well-being over other people’s expectations.
6. Limit exposure to draining situations
- Recognize the patterns. If someone repeatedly relies on you for emotional labor, reevaluate the dynamic.
- Step back when you need to. Reducing contact or disengaging from people who emotionally drain you is okay.
7. Practice accepting discomfort.
- Let go of people-pleasing. Other people might not always understand or like your boundaries, and that’s okay.
- Focus on your values. Prioritize living authentically over managing others’ perceptions of you.
8. Celebrate small wins
- Acknowledge your progress. Each time you set a boundary or say no, it’s one step closer to healthier relationships.
- Reframe guilt: Protecting your peace isn’t selfish — it’s necessary.
Emotional labor isn’t 100% bad. As with everything, there is always nuance. Ada Hoffman shares about that a bit.
Comments on this post
Luana
Hi Jane. I’m reading this just now. And since as an HSP I can sympathize, here’s my one-word comment for you:
*HUGS* ♥
– Lu
Leave a comment