Children with ASD and Anxiety: How to Help Your Child
- Children with ASD are more likely to have anxiety or an anxiety disorder than children who are not on the spectrum
- Recognizing anxiety in a child with autism is the first step, as well as determining triggers
- Anxiety treatment in children with autism may be similar to treatment used in children who do not have autism, but some will need extra support
- Engaging in therapies, such as ABA or CBT, can help children with autism combat anxious feelings by helping them communicate more effectively
All children feel anxiety at times, and this can be a normal part of development. Situations like navigating friendships or trying new things make most children apprehensive. Children with autism have anxiety more frequently than typically developing children, however.
The Link Between Anxiety and Autism
Children with ASD can sometimes find every day situations anxiety provoking. Examples include: that typically developing children do not. These can include situations like:
- Deviations from their normal daily routines
- Not having access to their special interests
- Unpredictable or less familiar social situations
- Situations where they cannot decipher social cues or communications
- New sensations within their bodies
- Their own thoughts, feelings, or behaviors if they cause unfamiliar sensations
Each child is unique, so your child may have his own triggers. Part of helping your child navigate their anxiety is recognizing and managing these unsure situations.
Recognizing Anxiety in Autism
Children who have autism with anxiety may not be able to express anxious feelings in the same way children who are not on the spectrum would. Many signs of anxiety in ASD mimic the same characteristics you’d see in all children with autism, but they may increase in frequency. These can include:
- More frequent stimming, engaging in special interests, or resistance to changes in routine
- Trouble sleeping
- Frequent meltdowns
- Avoidance of social situations previously engaged in
- Self-harming behaviors such as head banging, slapping, or scratching
As you notice these signs, you may also begin to determine your child’s unique triggers. These can often be changing routines, introducing new social situations, new foods or textures, loud noises, or other situations in which your child may become overstimulated. Social anxiety in autism is very common, and your child may find most social situations stressful.
Helping Your Child Navigate Anxiety with Autism
Children with ASD may not have the communication skills to express when they are feeling anxious. They may also not recognize what anxiety feels like. One way to help is to help them recognize what anxious feelings are and how to safely cope. These can include:
- Faster breathing
- Increased heart rate
- Nausea or “butterflies” in the stomach
- Sweaty palms
- Feelings of fear or wanting to escape
Once your child understands what anxious feelings are, you can begin to teach them how to manage. Many times, therapy is a good option. Working with a therapist will give your child coping skills when anxiety strikes.
Reducing Anxiety in Autism
Some skills for reducing anxiety in autistic children are similar to those used by neurotypical children. Coping tools you and your therapist can introduce include:
Calming Strategies
Triggers cannot always be avoided. Teaching calming techniques is a good way to help combat these moments of anxiety and frustration. Children can learn to take deep breaths, close their eyes, or count slowly to 10 when they begin feeling anxious.
Physical Activity
Engaging in regular exercise is a good way to combat anxiety in autistic children. Running, jumping on a trampoline, and other rhythmic activities are a good way to burn off steam.
Special Interests and Distractions
When possible, allowing your children to read a book, watch a favorite show, or engage in a special interest is a good way to decrease anxious feelings.
Avoidance
While not always possible or preferable, avoiding situations that trigger anxiety can sometimes be the best tool. This is particularly true until a child has learned proper coping mechanisms through therapy or parental coaching.
Medication
While medication isn’t the first choice in treating any child with anxiety, it can sometimes become necessary in severe cases. Not all children with anxiety and autism will require medication, and in many cases when it is required it isn’t needed long-term. Talk to your child’s doctor or therapist to determine if this step is needed.
Helping Your Child Succeed
While anxiety and autism often go hand in hand, you can help ensure your child has the coping strategies they need to thrive. If you need help navigating your child’s anxiety, our team at Excel Together is here to help. With ABA therapy in tandem with other modalities of treatment, we can help your child overcome anxiety and reach their full potential. Contact us to get started.