One of the first things I asked my therapist when we started was why sensory issues are often worse during autistic burnout. The answer was basically spoons. We have far fewer of them when we're burnt out. Apparently, we spend energy everyday repressing sensory issues even if we don't know we're doing it.

I'm reminded of this because the hissing pipes in this building are killing me.

@JeremyMallin it's part of masking. Some days you have the energy to mask and sometimes you don't.
@sushimom yeah. I never realized it was part.