Autism and Anxiety

Post Reply New Topic

im prob one of those rare autistics that doesnt have any anxiety oddly enough

Well anxiety is the obvious reaction to this disorder,you are being looked upon differently.Few of your fellow students and colleagues have no patience in putting up with you.
And yes anxiety and stress do not really help but cant escape them.Its the devil and the dead sea scenario.

I still have alot of social anxiety, and yes, the social inabilities from AS contribute quite a bit. It used to be so bad that I was almost totally socially disabled, and I couldn't even look at another person without have continuous panic attacks. That meant that I had to be alone.

I'm alot better now. Finding out that I had AS was a big step because it let me know where alot of the anxiety was coming from. Understanding the anxiety allowed me to rationalize the irrational, and that enabled me to bring myself closer to normality. My meds were helpful too, as they kept the anxiety levels down as I was "helping myself heal".

Although there were a few other things that contributed, AS was a major factor in creating my social anxiety. So yes, in my case they were definitely linked.

Beautifully stated.
This is really the same process that I am going through right now... putting the pieces together to try and improve. The anxiety is always there, but understanding everything about it does improve things somewhat.

If I could ask a slightly personal question of a few of you...

What anxiety medications are you taking?
I was on Paxil for awhile some years ago, and I hated it, and haven't taken anything since.
But I am starting to realize that the anxiety is wrecking my life, and I probably do need some kind of medicinal help.

Thanks.

I do not have anxiety. I just don't, no idea why. I only got the ASD impairments.

People with Autism generally experience anxiety at a more profound level than those without any kind of anxiety induced conditions.

I just came across this articles which says that a researcher at University of Massachusetts has come up with the therapeutic vest that could lessen the anxiety levels in autistics especially in ADHD.
Please visit this link to read more:http://www.medindia.net/news/Therapeutic-Vest-That-Lessens-Anxiety-in-Autistic-ADHD-Kids-in-the-Offing-37036-1.htm.

And also this interesting article about how special nutrition prepared for autistics can help them:http://autism-supplements.com/supplementsforautism/index.php?main_page=AutismSupplements

I like the idea of the weighted vest. I love the feeling of heavy blankets on me.

The supplements could work too. I'd have to be eating perfectly 24/7 just to feel better though.

Am told by everyone involved with self [neuros,NAS support staff,other support staff,SS Pysch,LD nurse and GP] that am have severe anxiety based around own autism,but don't recognise any of it,the first time am heard the neuro say severe anxiety am thought he was talking about someone else,it probably helps then that am not aware of it.
It's caused by the major difficulties am have with changes-as well as the fact have lived in several residential homes that were untrained in autism/high complex needs which had never cared less about changing things or routine,and severe impairment in sensory perception,it all can set off 'incidents',meltdowns or seizures.

Am have an eighteen year old cousin who is also Autie,though dad who has seen him more recently than self says he's high[er] functioning,he's on prozac for severe social anxiety,he's now hyper aware of people,and everytime he wants to stim he will hide while he does it,if he's in the house he pulls all the curtains shut,turns the lights off and shoves the family out the room,don't know whether his special school had taught him to behave like that [that stimming was bad],everyone apart from am have always thought it was tics and 'silly behavior'.
His dad has told dad that he is getting worse with his anxiety as well.

I get major panic attacks, and right now I'm under medication, so thank GOD I don't get them at all anymore. I used to get them once every few years, but 2 years ago, I just exploded and had this HUGE panic attack and then I started getting them ALL the time. No matter what I was doing or where I was going. I couldn't even go out of the house, or I'd start getting one...it was THAT bad. Even standing in line at Blockbuster....I started freaking out. lol. So I take meds now and I'm fine, but ong without them......I don't know what I'd do....

Final tally up to this point-

Anxiety yes:16
Anxiety no: 5

There might be a couple of more on the yes side, but the response was not a clear yes (I have it.)

My original post tally was wrong, so I edited it.

I have had a lifetime of serious anxiety.

Meds have never helped all that much for me. Only getting to a place where I accept myself, and accepting my autistic traits. I will never be NT, and all the faking in the world will never make that happen. Sometimes it's hard...there is so much pressure on a social level to just act "normal", and "get with it". I just want to be myself. Being genuine to myself is where true happiness is. Yeah it gets hard when I notice that I'm all by myself with my animals and three days have gone by without a single verbal exchange with a two-legged creature, but ah well..

I have anxiety, but it's a bit different to what most people seem to experience. I don't get a fight-or-flight response, or have panic attacks. It's more like a cognitive thing, my brain just stresses out and can't take it anymore, and I want to go home and chill out.

I have anxiety. And I'm in high school, which is possibly the worst place to be anxious, what with all the crowded hallways and noise. Occasionally I have anxiety attacks, but usually I just shut down. Sometimes I've considered going on meds, but I really don't like the idea of medication changing the way I feel and perceive things, and I'm afraid that meds would affect my synesthesia.

I know people who suffer from anxiety attacks,more than often i found the root cause to be the emotion of fear.there are two cures which i know can show encouraging results,first one is medication towards which you have an aversion and second one is meditation,some thing i would strongly recommend.

There are few additional things people have tried with encouraging results ,first one is to be aware when the attack comes,beaware of every sensation you feel in the every body of your body and thought process going inside your mind,apart from this you should also maintain a journal where you can write about each anxiety attack of yours on the daily basis it will give you a lot of relief.

Wishing the best for you