Autism and Decision Fatigue

An autistic mind likes things to be clear and known. It wants a smooth plan. That plan is what lets an autistic mind finally rest — to stop contemplating all of the different scenarios, possibilities, permutations, and more.

We autistics are excellent at envisioning multiple plans. We’re also great at seeing potential consequences: If C happens, then L might happen, which could lead to X … and X would be no good. These kinds of thoughts help us to be excellent deep thinkers.

Our brains are hyperconnected, so one thought can trigger 100 related thoughts. This can be a wonderful thing — and it can be exhausting. No one wants to endlessly ruminate, going round in circles. We like coming to decisions and putting our thinking to rest.

An autistic mind is also an idea-generating machine. Ideas are wonderful, but we can’t usually pursue them all. That too means we have to make decisions.

We autistics will often have multiple ideas simultaneously and think in depth about each, all at once. It’s a lot. Sometimes, there are simply too many choices to be made, and our brains are exhausted by contemplating all of the possibilities. That’s when we cross the line into decision fatigue.

Decision fatigue is a combination of exhaustion, overwhelm, and inertia, and it worsens when pressure is added.

Pressure can be added when we have to make a decision within a certain time frame. Time-related pressure can throw our thinking into overdrive, as we try to…