Anxiety Young People & ASD

Nature of Anxiety Mild to severe Always present Periodic Situational Panic Normal to abnormal

Types of Anxiety Generalised Anxiety Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Panic Disorder Phobias School Avoidance Selective Mutism Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

More Common for Kids with ASD Need for predictability Change can be difficult Sensory issues Greater attention given to detail Living in a world of Neurotypicals

Anxiety Treatment Information Analysis Quality of Life Improvements New Skills Professional Help

Useful Information about Anxiety Information sometimes “normalises” the unusual!! You are not mad..….bad……or sick Biological base to anxiety Elimination of anxiety not realistic Coping with anxiety is realistic Reassurance is of limited value 6

The role of avoidance and relief in anxiety 100 Avoidance = quick temporary relief Anxiety Time Trigger 7

Anxiety is Normal

Anxiety can be exciting….

Too much of anything is good for nothing! Too much anxiety? Too much of anything is good for nothing!

ANXIETY Anxiety is hard to say. Other words that mean anxiety are worry, fear, panic and stress. A little anxiety is a good thing. Everybody feels anxiety. It is normal to worry a little, to be a little afraid, to panic sometimes or to feel some stress. A little anxiety helps us to do things for ourselves. A little anxiety helps us to be careful. Too much anxiety is not helpful. Some people know that they become too anxious because Your heart beats very quickly and you have not been running; Your hands sweat; It is hard to breathe; Your tummy feels funny; Your thoughts are confused; and You might become angry or upset.

Analysis Long-term and short-term stressors? Any specific triggers? Hereditary Factors Parenting Style (overly cautious or critical?) Child’s expectations: are they realistic?

Quality of Life Be busy not bored. Diet and food intake: less sugar, less caffeine Exercise regularly A good night’s sleep Relaxation

New Skills Reducing “Stinking Thinking” Progressively Confront Avoidance Improve confidence and assertiveness Use Affirmations Release Feelings Relaxation

Stinkin’ Thinkin’ Common Thinking Errors

WORRY IS LIKE A ROCKING CHAIR IT GIVES YOU SOMETHING TO DO BUT ULTIMATELY GETS YOU NO-WHERE

ASK THE WORRY QUESTIONS….. WHEN HAS WORRY EVER MADE YOU HAPPY….?? WHEN HAS WORRY EVER MADE THINGS BETTER…?? WHEN HAS WORRY EVER GOT YOU WHAT YOU WANTED….?

Black & White Thinking I can’t do this so I must be stupid. If I gain even a pound I’ll be fat. I must be perfect or no one will love me. I always fail when I try to do something new I have nothing to look forward to anymore

Antidote to B & W Thinking Look for the shades of grey; look for colour Reflective Questions: Is it really so bad? Am I taking an extreme view?

Unfair Comparisons

Perfectionist Thinking If X < Y then X = Z X = The Situation Y = Perfection Z = Total Failure Am I making fair comparisons? Am I comparing myself to people who have a particular advantage?

Negative Filter Am I looking at the negatives and ignoring the positives? Is there a more balanced way to look at this?

Catastrophising What’s the worst that can happen What’s the best that can happen? Will this really matter in 5 years time? Is there anything good about this? What’s most likely to happen?

Magnification….. Minification What are the facts? What are my interpretations? Am I over generalising? Am I minimizing?

Labelling I am stupid…ugly…boring…useless…a loser He is a creep…retarded…a failure…dopey. Stick to the facts and not the interpretations: Doing something poorly does not mean that you are ……..

RELAXATION BREATHING BLOW! BREATHE! RELAX!

Professional Help Medical Psychological Counselling and Therapy Massage Other?

Extra Information www.asdsouthlee.com www.regionalasd.com social story on anxiety Anxiety: A Guide for Young people with ASD Dawn Huebner: “What to do when you Worry Too Much: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Anxiety”