Anger, Aggression and Autism

According to the mental health charity Mind

'Feeling angry is part of being human. It is a natural response to being attacked, insulted, deceived or frustrated. Sometimes, excessive anger can also be a symptom of some mental health problems.'

Unfortunately some people with autism become angry and aggressive very quickly and find it hard to deal with. The speed and intensity of their anger can be extreme.

When feeling angry, they do not appear to be able to pause and think of alternative strategies to resolve the situation

"The rapidity and intensity of anger, often in response to a relatively trivial event, can be extreme." (Attwood, 2006).

"When feeling angry, the person with Asperger's syndrome does not appear to be able to pause and think of alternative strategies to resolve the situation .. There is often an instantaneous physical response without careful thought. When the anger is intense, the person with Asperger's syndrome may be in a blind rage and unable to see the signals indicating that it would be appropriate to stop." (Attwood, 2006).

Updated

25 Mar 2019