For many of us, when we experience stress or feel anxious we often say we need to "pull ourselves together". Why do we say that? What sensations do we experience in our bodies and minds? There are physiological (body) and psychological (mind) sensations that occur whenever anyone is stressed or anxious. As a teacher or parent who supports an individual with ASD, it is beneficial to learn and understand the impact anxiety has on one's body and mind.
Bellini (2004) states, "Anxiety can be a debilitating disorder, often associated with excessive worry, fear, isolation, depression, substance abuse, suicidal ideation, and other forms of psychopathology." Anxiety or panic attacks can happen at any time and can affect a person both physiologically and psychologically. Anxiety can cause both physiological and psychological symptoms that disrupt a student's ability to sit still, listen, and learn. These symptoms may appear "out of the blue" to those around the individual. But in fact, it may be an ever building manifestation of the anxiety the person is feeling. Some symptoms may be completely invisible to others, but none-the-less are real and can be crippling.
Physiological symptoms (what an individual student may feel or experience) can include (Autism.org.uk. 2010):
- Excessive thirst
- Stomach upset
- Loose bowel movement
- Frequent urination
- Headaches
- Hot flushes or chills
- Pounding heart, chest pain, increased heart rate
- Fatigue
- Inability to sleep
- Muscle tension
- Excessive sweating
- Hyperventilation
- Muscle pain
- Dizziness
- Dilated pupils
- Heightened senses
- Hypertension
- Trembling
- Tingling
- Kidney and liver conditions
Psychological symptoms (what others may see as behaviors) can include (Bellini, 2004 & Anxiety Disorders of America):
- Easily losing patience
- Difficulty concentrating
- Thinking constantly about worst outcomes
- Sleep disturbance
- Depression
- Preoccupied or obsessed with one subject
- Compelled to perform rituals and routines repeatedly
- Excessive worry about many things (for example bad things happening to parents)
- Very hard on themselves, perfectionism
- Seek constant approval
- Seeing the world as unstable
- Restless, jumpy
- Tense
- Irritability, angry
- Crying, clinging, avoidance, tantrums
- Fear of death
- Fear of total loss of control
- Need to escape
- Intense, irrational fears
- Smothering feeling
- Feeling of choking
- Verbal or physical aggression
- Avoids people, places or activities
- Refusal to go to school, camp, sleepover
- Take a long time to calm down
- Extreme homesickness when away from home
These symptoms would be uncomfortable to each of us. Imagine how having any of these symptoms would feel to an individual with ASD. How can the feeling of being smothered or a pounding heart be explained and understood by someone whose disability impacts their ability to identify and understand emotions when they are calm let alone in a fearful or anxious state? Their difficulty comprehending feelings and symptoms can lead to complete exasperation which leads to more potential disruption in their lives. Remember for some individuals with ASD, the feelings associated with anxiety are hard for them to put into words. Emotions and feelings are difficult to express. However, according to Temple Grandin, "The primary emotion of autism is fear (Edington, 2010)".
Davis, K (2012) Anxiety and panic struggles. Retrieved from Anxiety and panic struggles