Pandemics, Social Unrest and a World in Crisis: Dealing with Autism and Anxiety

Bombings in Iran. A global pandemic. Worldwide lockdowns. Social unrest in American cities.

A glance at recent headlines from 2020 would give any neurotypical person reason for heightened anxiety. However, for those on the autism spectrum, these events can create additional stress and worry, particularly for those who are able to fully comprehend the gravity of the world’s current state of affairs.

For children and teens with autism, it’s important to strike a healthy balance of keeping them informed, while at the same time, protecting them from unnecessary information that’s going to cause undue fear. As renown autism expert Tony Attwood once stated, “autism is anxiety looking for a target.”

Many fears and phobias manifest when routines are disrupted and autistic individuals find themselves in unfamiliar situations. With schedules and routines constantly being disrupted due to COVID-19, parents and loved ones should do everything possible to provide comfort and solace during these trying times.

Anxiety is one of the most common psychiatric disorders affecting individuals with autism. In fact, 40% of teens and children and up to half of adults meet the clinical criteria of an anxiety disorder. In comparison, the anxiety rates in adults and children who do not have autism is 18 and 25 percent, respectively, according to the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health.

To help cope, here are some things that can be done to allay fears and anxiety related to recent world events:

1) Offer up a Favorite Game or Activity. When anxiety sets in, offer your loved one a familiar game or activity to help divert attention from the issue at-hand. This could include a favorite app, video game or book. Ensure them that things are going to be fine and providing them with a familiar activity will go a long way in soothing frayed nerves.

2) Limit Television and Internet Exposure. While it’s important not to completely shield loved ones from the realities of our world, television and screen time should be kept to a minimum. Internet filters are also very important and one of the most popular programs for protecting a child online is Net Nanny. This is a subscription-based software program that can be installed on a computer and/or phone that will filter news, social media, gambling sites, adult content and just about any other topic you can think of.

3) Pray and/or Meditate. Studies have confirmed that prayer and meditation/mindfulness are highly effective in lowering our reactivity to traumatic and negative events. Regardless of one’s religious affiliations or beliefs, setting some time aside on a daily basis for self-reflection and prayer will go a long way in relieving stress and overcoming anxiety from recent events.

4) Stick To Routines as Much as Possible. Regardless of the day of the week, it’s best to stick with regular bed and wake-up times, meal times, screen time, chores and other household routines. For example, even if your family is tempted to sleep in on a Saturday morning, try to wake up at the same time to keep things as harmonious as possible.

Individuals with autism already have a lot to contend with, so keeping an open line of communication and being fully supportive is usually the best anecdote for any anxiety that may be created from recent world events. As with everything else, this too shall pass and once on the other side, our loved ones will be much stronger and better equipped to handle additional adversity and trials that will surely come our way in the future.

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