Key Takeaways
- Impulsivity in autism can look different for everyone but may include acting without thinking, reacting quickly to emotions, or having trouble waiting your turn.
- Impulsivity can get worse with stress, overwhelming environments, or sudden changes.
- Therapy, social skills training, and recognizing triggers can help you manage impulsivity and improve decision making.
Impulse control challenges are common in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Many autistic people have difficulty pausing before acting, which can lead to behaviors like interrupting conversations, reacting strongly to emotions, or struggling with waiting their turn.
These challenges are linked to differences in brain function, particularly in areas that regulate self-control and decision making. With the right support — like therapy, social skills training, and sometimes medication — you can develop strategies to manage impulsivity and navigate daily life with more confidence.
Can impulsivity be a sign of autism?
Yes, impulsivity can be a sign of autism, though it’s not exclusive to autism and can be present in other mental health conditions, like ADHD, bipolar disorder, or impulse control disorders. However, some impulsivity is completely normal. You’ve probably made a spontaneous purchase or spoken without thinking at some point. For kids, it’s part of learning self-control. But if impulsivity feels overwhelming, disruptive, or hard to manage, it could be a sign of something more — like autism.
If you or someone you know struggles with turn-taking, social norms, or emotional outbursts, impulsivity could be linked to autism — especially if it’s tied to sensory sensitivities, intense interests, or difficulty shifting focus. When these behaviors occur alongside social or sensory differences, autism may be a factor.
Certain traits associated with autism can make impulsivity more common, including:
- Executive functioning challenges: Executive functions include skills like organizing, planning, and decision making. If you find it hard to pause before acting, difficulties with planning and self-control may be a factor.
- Sensory sensitivities: Overstimulation can lead to sudden reactions, like covering your ears or needing to leave a situation.
- Emotional regulation difficulties: Frustration or anxiety can build up quickly, sometimes leading to impulsive outbursts.
Recognizing these patterns can help you find strategies that make impulsivity easier to manage.
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What impulsiveness looks like in autistic people
In autistic people, impulsiveness can show up in different ways. You might interrupt others, act without thinking, have trouble waiting your turn, or react strongly to emotions. Some people may blurt things out, struggle to follow rules, or find it hard to stop doing something they enjoy.
Certain things can make impulsivity worse, like feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or upset. Sudden changes, bright lights, loud noises, or confusing social situations can also make it harder to control impulses.
Impulsivity isn’t always a big problem, but it can become one if it starts to affect your daily life. It may be time to seek support if your impulsivity:
- Causes significant stress: Frequent frustration or anxiety due to impulse control challenges
- Hurts relationships: Trouble maintaining friendships, conflicts with family, or social difficulties
- Leads to unsafe behaviors: Engaging in risky actions without thinking, like aggression, rule-breaking, or impulsive spending
- Affects school or work: Difficulty following rules, staying on task, or managing responsibilities.
- Occurs with other conditions: More severe when combined with ADHD, conduct disorder, or emotional dysregulation
A professional can help you identify strategies to improve impulse control, reduce frustration, and build skills for better decision making. Support like therapy, structured routines, and coping techniques can make it easier to manage impulses and feel more in control.
Building and managing impulse control in autism
When working on impulse control, you might start by setting small goals, like learning to pause before reacting during conversations or in social situations. You can also focus on practicing patience and taking turns with others in structured environments. It may also be helpful to pay attention to the things that trigger your impulsive reactions, so you can work on controlling them in the future.
Ways to build impulse control in autism
- Set small goals. Start by learning to pause before reacting during conversations or social situations.
- Practice patience and turn-taking. Work on these skills in structured environments to improve self-control.
- Identify triggers. Pay attention to what causes impulsive reactions so you can work on controlling them in the future.
Steps to cope with impulsiveness in autism
- Use visual schedules or timers. Add structure and predictability to your day to help manage impulses.
- Practice deep breathing, or count to 10. This can help you pause before reacting when emotions get strong.
- Role-play social situations. Prepare for real-life moments by practicing how to stay calm and respond thoughtfully.
- Talk to a therapist. Learn to manage impulsivity, recognize triggers, and practice coping skills with techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and applied behavioral analysis (ABA). If needed, your provider may suggest medication to help with emotional regulation.
Building impulse control takes time and practice, but, with the right strategies, you can improve. By working on these skills and understanding your triggers, you’ll start to feel more in control and be better able to manage impulsive reactions. Remember, progress may take time, but every step forward counts.
Find care with Rula
Impulsivity is a common challenge for people with autism, but it doesn’t have to control your life. With the right support, you can develop strategies to manage impulsive behaviors and improve your daily experiences. Therapy can provide space to explore the underlying causes of impulsivity, while coping strategies can help you respond more thoughtfully in challenging situations. With consistent practice and support, you’ll gain greater control over your reactions and feel more confident in managing impulsivity.
At Rula, we’re committed to delivering a comprehensive behavioral health experience that helps people feel seen and understood so they can get back to feeling their best.
Rula makes it easier to find a licensed therapist or psychiatric provider who accepts your insurance so you don’t have to choose between affordable care and excellent care. With a diverse network of more than 15,000 providers, 24/7 crisis support, and appointments available as soon as tomorrow, we’re here to help you make progress — wherever you are on your mental health journey.
About the author
Brandy Chalmers, LPC
Having faced challenges like childhood abuse, neglect, and the loss of her father to suicide, Brandy Chalmers is deeply passionate about providing compassionate care. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Nationally Certified Counselor, and Registered Play Therapist with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy.
Brandy also teaches at a university, sharing her expertise with future mental health professionals. With over a decade of experience in settings like inpatient care and private practice, she specializes in helping clients with perfectionism, trauma, personality disorders, eating disorders, and life changes.
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