Support & Education for Adults on the Autism Spectrum: The Easily Frustrated Person on the Spectrum

Is it common for people with ASD to become frequently overwhelmed and frustrated over seemingly insignificant matters -- that is, things that typically would not bother anyone else?

People with ASD are indeed easily frustrated by certain circumstances. They may become overwhelmed by minimal change and very reactive to unwanted environmental stimuli. They typically like everything to stay the same.

In addition, they tend to get anxious and worry obsessively when they don't know what to expect. Tension, exhaustion and sensory-overload often throw them off balance. Thus, they may seem to be disturbed about a lot of things

Some find work very stressful, but they tend to keep their emotions bottled-up until they get home. Most of these individuals don't display the body language and facial expressions you would expect to see when one is feeling anxious or upset. While they may appear relatively calm at work, they are often experiencing very different emotions under the surface – and may release those pent-up emotions in the safety of their home.

==> Living With Aspergers: Help for Couples

Due to difficulties with empathizing, many adults on the spectrum don't recognize the suffering of others. So, when they attack another person, they may not be able to fully comprehend the damage they inflict.

Low-frustration tolerance may occur due to any of the following:

• Sensory integration dysfunctions

• Rigid or inflexible thinking

• Resistance to change

• Hypersensitivity to sensory input

• Executive functioning disruption

• Difficulty with social comprehension

• Difficulty understanding cause and effect

• Difficulty identifying and controlling emotions

Some of the traits associated with the disorder (e.g., mind-blindness, sensory sensitivities, literal thinking, social skills deficits, etc.) may result in the person with ASD viewing the world as a cold and hostile place. They may develop a habit of attributing hostile intentions to others. More on this topic here ==> https://youtu.be/P1izup2uX3U

Those who have had some luck controlling their tendencies toward becoming easily frustrated have usually learned to do some of the following:

recognize angry feelings in themselves and others
self-calming techniques
how to remove themselves from a frustrating situation
how to problem solve
how to control angry impulses
how to avoid being a victim of someone else's angry actions
express anger nonviolently
communicate angry feelings in a positive way

Many adults on the spectrum have been known to experience meltdowns. Think of a meltdown as an “escape mechanism.” If the individual has the means to get himself out of a highly frustrating situation before it becomes overwhelming, the cognitive and emotional pressure lessens. But, without these means of escape, the anxiety will escalate, and his body will begin to panic, propelling him toward a meltdown.