Autism and Anxiety
Individuals with autism often present with high degrees of anxiety throughout there lifespan.
The research suggests that around 40 to 50 percent of individuals with ASD have a clinical diagnosis of anxiety. Anxiety is not a unitary clinical phenomenon. It can manifest in a variety of ways and in varying degrees of a severity.
Here are some common diagnostic categories of anxiety:
- GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder)
- Panic Disorder
- Specific Phobia (Excessive fear and avoidance of a specific object, person or place)
- Social Anxiety
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
It is therefore critical that Autistic persons have effective and reliable coping mechanism to assist themselves with the process of anxiety management. I say anxiety management as we cannot completely rid ourselves of anxiety altogether. Anxiety remains part of the human condition but we can move from feeling anxious to healthy concern.
Here are some helpful self- talk affirmative statements you can practice telling yourself when you feel anxious or as an everyday form of self-meditation which may assist in calming you:
- I want certainty but don’t require it. I can deal with not knowing what the exact outcome will be (Because you have probably not know an outcome before and yet you survived that experience, no reason you can’t do that again!)
- I can tolerate this feeling of discomfort coming up in my body even though I don’t like and will never enjoy it (Telling yourself that you can manage something instead of holding the belief that you can’t stand it increases your tolerance levels for discomfort)
- I’d prefer to be able to know in advance how this experience will be but I don’t have to know in order to do it (Cultivating an attitude of preferring certainty but not making it an absolute necessity)
One of the sources of our anxiety comes from a fear of or intolerance for uncertainty (not-knowing). It is therefore best to seek professional assistance if you still struggle with anxiety on a regular basis. At the spectrum centre we use a broad range of tools, methods, therapeutic approaches and skills which we have modified specifically for the needs of Autistic clients in order to assist them on the journey towards managing their anxiety more effectively. You do not have to take this journey alone.
Please contact us at the Spectrum Centre to book a session
By: Kevin Naidu; Clinical Psychologist (South Africa)
