Mental Health: Anxiety and Autism
As many parents and people on the spectrum already know, anxiety is common in people with autism. Anxiety disorders include a variety of clinical diagnoses which are grouped together based on the common features of fear, anxiety, and behaviors such as avoidance. According to the DSM-5 which contains the guidelines for clinical diagnoses, some common anxiety related disorders are generalized anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobias. Each of these disorders are characterized by persistent and excessive experiences of fear and anxiety and can cause extreme difficulty in a person’s daily life.
So how many people with autism also have anxiety? Research suggests that among children and adolescent with autism the rates of anxiety disorders ranges from around 40-70%. This is much higher than typically developing children, where about 16% have anxiety disorders. The story is similar in adults with autism. Research shows that around 40-50% of adults with autism also have anxiety, this is quite a bit higher than people without autism (13-25%). Unfortunately, it can sometimes be more difficult for people with autism to get evaluated and treated for anxiety. Some health care professionals who are not familiar with autism may assume that the symptoms of anxiety are just part of the person’s autism symptoms. This is called diagnostic overshadowing. Some people with autism may struggle to communicate to others their emotional states, which can also be a barrier for health care providers who are unfamiliar with autism. It can also be a struggle to find a therapist, especially for people who have autism and cognitive disabilities.
If you or your child has autism and is experiencing symptoms of anxiety what do you do? First, try to seek out a medical provider that has experience with autism and mental health. This can be challenging! If you can’t find someone in your area, be ready to advocate for yourself or your child. Unfortunately, some providers may not want to treat the anxiety because they don’t have experience or expertise in autism. Help the provider to understand that the symptoms of anxiety are not just “part of the autism” but are separate and treatable. If you are worried about communicating with the health care provider, it might be helpful to sit down and write out all the symptoms that you or your child experiences. It can be easy to forget important details in the moment and you want to be able to communicate clearly. It is also important to know that children and adults with autism can receive the same type of treatment for anxiety that people without autism receive. These might include therapy such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, or medication. It is a common misconception that people who have autism and cognitive impairment won’t benefit from therapy. This just isn’t true; a growing amount of research is showing that people with cognitive impairments show reductions in symptoms and a higher quality of life after working with a therapist. Seeking help can be a tough process but remember that anxiety is very treatable and seeking treatment can greatly improve you or your child’s quality of life.
