| Autism and anxiety are one. An autistic person often | | | | anxieties. No one likes change, even moreso the |
| experiences anxiety attacks due to their inability to | | | | autistic child but with more preparation and notice of |
| properly process the world around them. The anxiety | | | | the change and taking it gradually it will lesson the |
| can manifest itself as a result of the littlest of changes | | | | anxiety they experience as a result. |
| to their routine and environment. Many autistic children | | | | To the anxious autistic child the world around them is |
| experience extreme difficulties in coping with the ever | | | | unstable and ever changing. Things that don't affect us |
| changing world. The anxieties may appear as | | | | like dinner being a half hour late can cause great |
| nightmares or simply erratic, seemly unreasonable | | | | distress in their worlds. Imagine for a moment you |
| behaviours in response to something around them. This | | | | have no or very limited communication skills. You don't |
| can be difficult to cope with as a parent or caregiver | | | | much understand the world around you and all your |
| but imagine yourself as your autistic loved one. | | | | senses are turned up on high. That is already a very |
| Due to an inability for most autistic children to soothe | | | | stressing situation, now add in a change of routine in a |
| themselves you may find they become overly anxious | | | | world you are struggling to cope with and you will |
| as a result of minor routine changes. You can help | | | | begin to understand the emotions and feelings your |
| prevent this by preparing them. Autistic children tend to | | | | child is coping with. You have begun to see things from |
| be visual learners so using a picture schedule or picture | | | | within their autistic world. |
| book to show what will happen may help ease their | | | | |