Anxiety in Young People with an Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Anxiety in Young People with an Autism Spectrum
Disorder

• Vicki Grahame Helen Taylor
• Clinical Psychologists
• Newcastle CAMHS
• l

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Why is anxiety so prevalent in ASD?

• Research suggests that social and emotional
  skills deficits and poor social supports are risk
  factor for emotional and behavioural disorders
  (Spence, 2003).
• Inability to understand and mange emotions
  associated with poor social and academic
  adaptation at school (Alongi, 2005 Mestre et al,
  2006).
• Deficits in social skills were linked to
  rejection by teachers and peers (Alongi, 2005).

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What kinds of difficulties do children with ASD
present with

• Delays in Social Development
• e.g. poor social problem solving
• Delays in Emotional development
• e.g. Less likely to perceive the emotions of
  others
• Difficulties expressing thoughts and feelings

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What is Anxiety?

• What happens to your body when you feel anxious
  or worried?
• 1.Heart rate.
• 2. Breathing
• 3. Muscles..
• 4. Postures.
• 5. Face..
• What happens to your thinking when you feel
  anxious?
• 1.Speech
• 2.Thinking.

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Identify and express own emotions
FEELING WORRIED
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Comic Strip Conversations
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Coping Step Plan
Helpful Thoughts
Think of a situation that is worrying you and
break it down into small steps. Think of a
helpful thought to get you through each of the
steps.
Steps of my coping plan
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Emotional Toolbox

• We have different tools that we can use to help
  us fix a feeling such as anxiety.
• These might include

Take 3 deep breaths
Physical activity
Moore et al., 2004 Richman et al., 1998
Relaxation tools
Social tools
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Relaxation

• There is no one way of relaxing
• People find different methods useful at different
  times e.g.
• Deep breathing
• Imagery
• Deep muscle Relaxation
• It is important to find what works
• for you.

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Coping self talk

• Coping self- talk is useful because
• It can help you feel more relaxed
• It can make you feel more confident
• It encourages you to try rather than give up or
  avoid doing things
• At difficult times instead of listening to your
  worries,
• Repeat positive coping messages to yourself.

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References

• The Friends Program Prevention of Anxiety and
  Depression, Paula Barrett, Hayley Webster
  Cynthia Turner (2000).
• Think Good- Feel Good A Cognitive Behaviour
  Therapy Workbook for Children and Young People,
  Paul Stallard (2003).
• Minds and Hearts website www.mindsandhearts.net
• My Book Full of Feelings How to Control and
  React to the Size of your Emotions, Jaffe
  Gardener, 2006)
• Cool Kids Program www.psy.mq.edu.au/MUARU/books
• www.tonyattwood.com.au