Research suggests autistic people are more prone to experiencing anxiety and estimates that up to half of all autistic people experience high levels of anxiety on a regular basis. If you or someone you know is struggling with high levels of anxiety, there is support and help available.
The physical symptoms can be terrifying to a child experiencing a panic attack for the first time. The sudden shortness of breath and chest pain may feel like a heart attack. Frequent panic attacks can be the result of a diagnosed panic disorder, which can occur in children with ASD.
PANIC ATTACKS & AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS. Adults on the autism spectrum may be prone to anxiety or distress, which in extreme situations could lead to panic attacks. Panic attacks are a terrifying experience where the body reacts as if it is in immense danger, in a situation where most people would not be afraid.
Symptoms: Autism meltdowns can involve crying, screaming, hitting, or running away, while panic attacks can involve physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, sweating, and shortness of breath.
Facts About Anxiety Spectrum Disorders
The term “anxiety spectrum disorder” refers to generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder (PD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social anxiety disorder (also called social phobia), and specific phobias.
Being completely silent. Not being able to communicate in any way. Withdrawing to a quiet, dark space to get away from the cause of their shutdown. Not being able to move from where they are because they're thinking too much about the cause of their shutdown.
Keeping yourself well-rested, well-fed, and hydrated are easy ways to empower yourself should you encounter an unexpectedly difficult or overwhelming situation. You can also explore techniques like meditation, mindfulness, and breathing to help yourself de-escalate if you find your sense of anxiety on the rise.
In children and teenagers with high-functioning autism, this can present as a limited social circle, difficulty completing group work, or problems sharing toys and materials. Many people with ASD have sensory difficulties. Certain tastes, noises, smells, or feelings can be intolerable.
Although your son's reaction sounds more severe than most, many people with autism struggle with a range of fears, phobias and worries. These can range from a debilitating fear of, say, spiders or the dark to chronic anxiety about making mistakes or being late.
The SSRIs most commonly prescribed to autistic people are fluoxetine and sertraline. Sertraline is often the top choice because its side effects are milder than those of other SSRIs and because it has fewer interactions with other drugs.
Chills or heat sensations. Paresthesias; numbness or tingling sensations. Derealization (feelings of unreality) or depersonalization (being detached from oneself) Fear of losing control or going crazy.
In addition to improving cognitive function and reducing hyperactivity, caffeine can also increase social interaction in individuals with autism. A study conducted by the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston found that caffeine can increase social interaction in individuals with autism.
During a meltdown, we found that most autistics described feeling overwhelmed by information, senses, and social and emotional stress. They often felt extreme emotions, such as anger, sadness, and fear, and had trouble with thinking and memory during the meltdown.
If you still hear people use some of the older terms, you'll want to know what they mean: Asperger's syndrome. This is on the milder end of the autism spectrum. A person with Asperger's may be very intelligent and able to handle their daily life.
People who are in extreme discomfort from overstimulation may show many of the common symptoms of a panic attack. Especially if they are not able to get away from the stimuli causing their discomfort. Physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion.
What's the difference between a panic attack and an anxiety attack? The main difference is that certain stressors often trigger anxiety attacks, and they may build up gradually. In contrast, panic attacks typically happen unexpectedly and suddenly.
Autistic people can find it difficult to express their wants and needs, from a non-verbal child struggling to express their need for a drink to a teenager finding it hard to express their emotions. This can result in overwhelming feelings, such as anger and frustration, leading to a meltdown.
While some people with autism merely yell or stamp, many really do become overwhelmed by their own emotions. 3 Bolting, hitting, self-abuse, crying, and screaming are all possibilities. These can be particularly frightening—and even dangerous—when the autistic individual is physically large.