A Parent’s Guide to Helping an Autistic Child with Anxiety

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For the letter X, I wanted to cover helping an autistic child with anxiety. Yes, I realize that it’s not a word that starts with x , but cut me a little a slack, okay? The reason that I chose to use anxiety is because it’s one of the more prevalent co-morbid (or co-occuring) conditions with children with autism. Another reason I chose anxiety is because May is Mental Health Awareness month and I wanted to use this post to tie-in with the upcoming posts that I’ll have on anxiety and depression.

While this is not something that all parents will face, this is a more common issue when it comes to parenting an autistic child.

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is basically worry that never stops. Its symptoms can be severe or mild, and include emotional, physical, and/or psychological manifestations.

What Causes Anxiety?

-Genetics
There is evidence to suggest that the tendency to develop anxiety can be inherited. This genetic tendency may need an environmental trigger of some sort to develop actual anxiety symptoms. I wonder if I’ve contributed at all. I was never officially diagnosed with anxiety. But I do have panic attacks, mild social anxiety, and general anxiety.

-Traumatic Event(s)
Veterans of wars, survivors of rape and/or sexual abuse, and other victims of traumatic experience can suffer from anxiety. It’s as though the brain can not “move on” from the event, creating patterns of anxious thoughts and physical symptoms.

I want to eventually write a post about the research that’s been done regarding PTS (Post Traumatic Stress) and parenting an autistic child. My psychology professor, when I was at Maria, brought this up with me and I actually ended up incorporating it into my final psychology project.

-Brain Chemicals
Those who suffer from anxiety tend to have abnormal levels of neurotransmitters, which means their brains have trouble transmitting information on a cellular level.

Common Treatments for Anxiety in Children

-Behavioral Therapy
Behavioral therapy is about just that – behavior. It is not designed to delve into the patient’s past, or explore underlying causes of the patient’s anxiety. It does, however, help the patient identify patterns of thinking and behaving, and how those thoughts and behaviors are connected. The goal is to help the patient manage the problem.

-Cognitive Therapy
This kind of therapy teaches the patient to have rational responses to stressful situations rather than negative, self-abasing responses. Cognitive therapy helps the patient face – and therefore overcome – the irrational thoughts and beliefs that bring on an anxious response.

-Medication
While there are several anxiety medications on the market, most experts agree that medication should be used in conjunction with some other sort of therapy. Medication is generally considered a short-term help, and, depending on the type of anxiety exhibited, is not a long-term solution.

-Regular Exercise
This is basic, but effective. Exercise causes the brain to release endorphins, the “feel good” brain chemicals that help you relax and feel happy and content. Exercise also uses your muscles and promotes good circulation. Daily exercise is best, but even regular exercise several times a week has proven helpful.

-Meditation or Relaxation Techniques
Like regular exercise, these treatments need to be practiced regularly. They can help release muscle tension. Meditation and relaxation also promote centered, calm patterns of thought.

-Biofeedback
This treatment basically teaches you how to recognize your body’s anxiety symptoms. It “tunes you in” to your body’s cues so that you can recognize an oncoming episode of anxiety. If you can recognize its onset, you can learn to stop it from getting full-blown.

-Psychotherapy
This usually involves talking to someone, and is sometimes called “talk therapy.” Therapists help the anxiety sufferer understand and identify what is going on, which then enables the sufferer to manage his or her anxiety.

 What to Do When You Worry Too Much: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Anxiety (What to Do Guides for Kids) Helping Your Anxious Child: A Step-by-Step Guide for Parents What to Do When You’re Scared and Worried: A Guide for Kids Wilma Jean the Worry Machine Growing Up Brave: Expert Strategies for Helping Your Child Overcome Fear, Stress, and Anxiety Please Explain Anxiety to Me! Simple Biology and Solutions for Children and Parents, 2nd Edition (Growing with Love) Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents: 7 Ways to Stop the Worry Cycle and Raise Courageous and Independent Children The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook for Kids: Help for Children to Cope with Stress, Anxiety, and Transitions (Instant Help) Anxiety-Free Kids: An Interactive Guide for Parents and Children I Bet I Won’t Fret: A Workbook to Help Children with Generalized Anxiety Disorder The Invisible String The Most Unique Anxiety Relief Workbook for Your Child in the Universe The Anxiety Workbook for Kids: Take Charge of Fears and Worries Using the Gift of Imagination The Anxiety Workbook for Teens: Activities to Help You Deal with Anxiety and Worry The Worried Child: Recognizing Anxiety in Children and Helping Them Heal More Creative Coping Skills for Children: Activities, Games, Stories, and Handouts to Help Children Self-regulate Worry, Worry, Go Away!: A Kid’s Book about Worry and Anxiety David and the Worry Beast: Helping Children Cope with Anxiety 12 Annoying Monsters: Self-talk for kids with anxiety

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Types of Anxiety in Children with Autism

According to a University of Amsterdam study, almost 40% of children with autism will also be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. The breakdown is as follows:

• Specific Phobia: 30%
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: 17%
• Social Anxiety Disorder/Agoraphobia: 17%
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder: 15%
• Separation Anxiety Disorder: 9 %
• Panic Disorder: 2%

This study, in addition to several others, have shown that anxiety disorders are more severe in children with autism.

Another thing to keep in mind is that, even without an official diagnosis, some degree of anxiety disorder will exist in a child with autism. However, it can also be difficult to get this diagnosis of an anxiety disorder if the individual is unable to communicate their fears and worries.

Treating Anxiety in Children with Autism

With or without the official diagnosis, it is definitely possible to treat anxiety in children with autism. Just because they don’t have the official diagnosis doesn’t mean that they won’t have some of the overlapping signs.

The most effective treatment for anxiety is CBT or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. But, with an individual with autism this may not always work as CBT is very verbal and abstract.

So what else works for treating anxiety in children with autism?

Parental involvement. As parents we are the primary caregiver and we know our children best. If you think that your child may be experiencing anxiety, start keeping a diary or log of recent events.

Did you recently move? Try a new laundry detergent? Daylight savings time?

Any number of things could trigger anxiety in children with autism.

So how can parents help?

My favorite resources tend to be books:

 Kids in the Syndrome Mix of ADHD, LD, Autism Spectrum, Tourette’s, Anxiety, and More!: The one-stop guide for parents, teachers, and other professionals From Anxiety to Meltdown: How Individuals on the Autism Spectrum Deal with Anxiety, Experience Meltdowns, Manifest Tantrums, and How You Can Intervene Effectively Overcoming Anxiety and Depression on the Autism Spectrum: A Self-help Guide Using CBT The Anxiety Cure for Kids: A Guide for Parents and Children (Second Edition) Autism, Anxiety and Me: A Diary in Even Numbers Attacking Anxiety: A Step-by-Step Guide to an Engaging Approach to Treating Anxiety and Phobias in Children with Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities Managing Anxiety in People With Autism: A Treatment Guide for Parents, Teachers and Mental Health Professionals (Topics in Autism) Exploring Feelings: Anxiety: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy to Manage Anxiety When My Worries Get Too Big! A Relaxation Book for Children Who Live with Anxiety Asperger Syndrome and Anxiety: A Guide to Successful Stress Management Understanding and Treating Self-Injurious Behavior in Autism: A Multi-Disciplinary Perspective Autism and the Stress Effect: A 4-step lifestyle approach to transform your child’s health, happiness and vitality The Sensory Child Gets Organized: Proven Systems for Rigid, Anxious, or Distracted Kids The Weighted Blanket Guide: Everything You Need to Know about Weighted Blankets and Deep Pressure for Autism, Chronic Pain, and Other Conditions

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And, of course, you can look for sensory tools for managing anxiety:

How do you manage anxiety in your autistic child? What strategies have worked best for you?

You may also like:

• Calming Strategies for Children with Autism
• Creating a Calming Environment for Autistic Children
• Calming Strategies Printable Pack
• Free Resources for Families with Children on the Autism Spectrum
• Apps for Anxiety in Children

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Kori

Digital Product Creator at Kori at Home

Kori is a late diagnosed autistic/ADHD mom. She is currently located in Albany, NY where she is raising a neurodiverse family. Her older daughter is non-speaking autistic (and also has ADHD and Anxiety) and her youngest daughter is HSP/Gifted. A blogger, podcaster, writer, product creator, and coach; Kori shares autism family life- the highs, lows, messy, and real. Kori brings her own life experiences as an autistic woman combined with her adventures in momming to bring you the day-to-day of her life at home. Kori is on a mission to empower moms of autistic children to make informed parenting decisions with confidence and conviction.

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