• Replies 7 replies
  • Subscribers 80 subscribers
  • Views 1730 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Anxiety and Autism- Help!

The Riddler

Hi, this is my first post on this, or any forum. I am 44 and currently awaiting an official assessment/ diagnosis. Although I pretty convinced it's a thing.

I have struggled with anxiety for a while and been treated for this. However, what I want to know is how prominent is anxiety as an issue to people, particularly adults, with aspergers? I really struggle with social situations and this increases if there is a possibility of any sort of confrontation or debate.

Anyway, if people could share their thoughts and experiences it would be really helpful.

Thanks.

Parents

  • I don't know what the official statistics say, nor how accurate they are (standard anxiety screening tools aren't necessarily going to work for autistic people) but I would guess that more than half of autistic people have some level of clinical anxiety that causes difficulty in daily life.

    I have had quite a bit of talking therapy for anxiety and depression and it's been partially useful, but I only got my diagnosis in July so I'm only just getting some suitable therapy: unadapted therapy, like regular CBT, is often unhelpful and might actually make things worse. I thought I was getting panic symptoms in places like supermarkets so my therapists gave the standard CBT advice that if you stay in a situation when you're panicking, the anxiety will subside as you discover that the situation is safe.

    Unfortunately what no one figured out was that I was actually experiencing sensory overload which was causing symptoms that looked like anxiety. But by staying, I was just getting overloaded more. Now I can make decisions based on avoiding or reducing the sensory overload, but I don't unlearn rules easily so I've got to practice with my new understanding before it will feel okay.

    I find uncertainty really anxiety provoking too. I don't have a way of dealing with this yet. Some theories suggest that autistic people struggle to predict unfamiliar events. Actually I think what is going on for me is that I'm predicting many possible outcomes and events, and becoming overwhelmed by trying to work out how to respond appropriately to all of them in case one of them happens.

  • in reply to Invisiblewoman

    Thanks for this comprehensive response. Certainly what you say about uncertainty rings true, and is what lead me to leave the post in the first place. I always over analyse events in an attempt to predict every outcome and every conversation that may occur, so I can have a pre-prepared response.

    I have found recently that carrying a fidget spinner with me helps. If I'm out and about and get anxious I can use it and it's just enough of a distraction to get me through. Fortunately I am beyond caring what people think about a 44 year old with a kids toy! Wink

  • in reply to The Riddler

    I think that's a good attitude to have, to not care what others think if you're doing something that doesn't look 'normal'. I waver a bit, sometimes able to not mind and sometimes I do and I just wish I could be invisible to other people so I don't have to worry about how they might respond to my weird or 'inappropriate' behaviours.

    I have a fidget spinner but I actually find other objects more useful - smooth wooden things like a little ring, or polished pebbles, or conkers. They fit my pockets a bit better too. I can also use some items of jewellery like a beaded bracelet.

Reply
  • in reply to The Riddler

    I think that's a good attitude to have, to not care what others think if you're doing something that doesn't look 'normal'. I waver a bit, sometimes able to not mind and sometimes I do and I just wish I could be invisible to other people so I don't have to worry about how they might respond to my weird or 'inappropriate' behaviours.

    I have a fidget spinner but I actually find other objects more useful - smooth wooden things like a little ring, or polished pebbles, or conkers. They fit my pockets a bit better too. I can also use some items of jewellery like a beaded bracelet.

Children
No Data