Autism anxiety overload

Autism anxiety overload

Renowned autism expert Tony Atwood likes to put it this way: “Autism is fear of seeking a goal.” Autism and anxiety go hand in hand. Autism affects a person's ability to communicate with others or understand the world around them, and this can sometimes lead to anxiety and panic.

The anxiety becomes even worse when the autistic child's routine changes. Even positive and “fun” changes, like a school field trip or a visit to the zoo, can increase anxiety and aggressive behavior.

As a parent, the best course of action is to anticipate upcoming changes and help your child prepare for them. Many parents find it helpful to use stories and pictures to prepare children for upcoming disorders. For example, if it's a field trip to the zoo, use pictures to show your child what they will see at the zoo, what the zoo will look like, and what things to expect. Do this every day for three or four days before the trip. This way, when the trip actually takes place, the child is not completely out of his element, but already understands and appreciates some of the events.

Other changes to the routine are less fun but still necessary. Getting a new teacher can be traumatic, as can moving to a new house. If possible, try to distribute the most important changes. If you're moving to a new house, try to do it in the summer so your child doesn't have to deal with the added anxiety of getting a new school and a new teacher in the middle of the year.

You can also introduce your child to the concept of “change” in a positive way by practicing with non-negative things. For example, just for practice, give him a little extra TV time instead of homework to show that changes in routine can often be fun and good. Then practice with a neutral change (homework after dinner instead of before dinner), then with a negative change (changing game time to work time). This process can help your child get used to the idea of ​​change and learn to adapt without becoming anxious.

Due to ongoing anxiety, many parents have begun using anxiety medications for their autistic children. Typically the medications are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which are also used for obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression. Prozac, Luvox, Zoloft, and Anafranil are common for anxiety in autistic children.

For behavioral problems, antipsychotics such as Haldol, fluphenazine and chlorpromazine may be prescribed. These can reduce aggression in autistic children, but can sometimes cause sedation and muscle stiffness.

All patients are different. You and your doctor should monitor your child's progress very closely, using the lowest possible dose of medication to see what improvements it makes and whether any side effects occur. Medication should be the last resort for autism, not the first. There are a number of natural remedies if you don't want to go down the drug route. However, try behavioral and dietary changes first to see what improvements can be achieved naturally.

Inspired by Rachel Evans