The Invisible Companion: Anxiety and Autism in a Neuromajority World
Unveiling the Hidden Struggle: Anxiety in Autistic Individuals
Anxiety, a common human experience, takes on a consistently experienced, and often, overwhelming dimension for many autistic individuals. Recent research and clinical observations have shed light on the pervasiveness and complexity of anxiety within the autistic community, revealing a struggle that has long been underrecognised and misunderstood. This blog article explores the multifaceted nature of anxiety in autistic peoples, its origins, manifestations, and potential strategies for management and support.
The Pervasive Nature of Anxiety in Autism
For many autistic individuals, anxiety is not just an occasional visitor but a constant companion. Unlike allistic individuals who may experience anxiety in response to specific triggers, autistic people often report feeling anxious "all the time" or "as far back as they can remember." This pervasive anxiety can be so ingrained in their daily experience that it becomes difficult to identify or articulate as a distinct emotion. As one autistic individual described it, "It's like asking a fish what they think about water."
This lifelong experience of anxiety poses unique challenges in both personal understanding and I can identify with this in myself. Like me, many autistic adults only realised later in life that they were autistic. And this delayed recognition, not only didnt help understand why had frequent anxiety, but also it led to years of unaddressed mental health concerns and missed opportunities for support because without any good explanations we ‘just got on with things’.
The Roots of Anxiety: Uncertainty and Unsafety
At the core of anxiety in autistic peoples lives lie two fundamental experiences: a profound sense of uncertainty and a pervasive feeling of unsafety in the world. The world designed for the neuromjority, with its often unspoken social rules and expectations, can feel like a foreign country with unfamiliar customs, to autistic individuals. This constant state of navigating an environment that feels unpredictable and potentially hostile can lead to chronic anxiety.
Dr. Luke Beardon, in his work on autism and anxiety, emphasizes that much of the anxiety experienced by autistic individuals is rooted in real environmental challenges rather than being an inherent symptom of autism itself. And i definately and wholeheartedly agree with this. It is a perspective that shifts the focus from viewing anxiety as an internal deficit (blaming autistic people for their own anxiety) to recognising anxious states as reasonable responses to a world that is often not designed with autistic needs in mind at best, and one that is at its worst oppressive, violent and discriminatory.
The School Experience and Beyond
Educational environments often serve as a crucible for anxiety in autistic folks. Some of us had good times at school. For others, school days brought feelings of confusion and shame at times. Or even all of the time. The complex social dynamics, sensory overload, undesirable expectations and pressures at school can create a perfect storm of anxiety-inducing factors. For adults now in their 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and 60’s, we look back and see that somehow we managed to get through, but that does not mean that all was okay.
As autistic individuals transition into adulthood, new challenges emerge. Going from being a child to a teen again changes the way that people relate to you and the things that they expect from you. This can be confusing and disappointing, or isolating.
Leaving education and going out into the world entails "adulting" – managing finances, meeting other peoples schedules, navigating workplace dynamics, having social encounters, and maintaining independent living – can be particularly anxiety-provoking. These challenges often persist well into adulthood, with many autistic adults reporting ongoing struggles with anxiety in various life domains. We all need support, no matter how competent we seem to be as an adult.
The Cumulative Impact of Micro-Traumatisation
Another critical factor in understanding anxiety in autistic individuals is the concept of micro-traumatisation. Repeated negative experiences, such as microaggressions by well-meaning people, social rejection and humiliation, misunderstandings, or sensory overload, can accumulate over time, leading to a complex form of post-traumatic stress. This cumulative trauma can reinforce feelings of unsafety and uncertainty, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of anxiety. Many autistic people that i personally know, as well as many clients, have said that living with anxiety has become almost unnoticable. “You just get used to it” and often dont think that theres anything you can do about it, just like other aspects of our broader living conditions. Living a life being less assaulted by anxiety states seems out of our reach.
Recognising and Articulating Anxiety
One of the significant challenges in addressing anxiety in autistic people is the difficulty many of us face in recognising and articulating emotional experiences. It is not because we do not have them. The challenge can be related to alexithymia, a condition characterized by difficulty identifying and describing emotions, which is more prevalent in the autistic population. However, theres more options available than the ‘one true way’ that we have been led to believe exists when seeking to understand and manage what you are feeling.
Mental health professionals and autistic individuals alike are developing strategies to overcome this barrier. When i work with autistic clients it can be fascinating and rewarding to discover together the ways in which the person begins to experiment with different ways of getting to know themselves and what they are feeling and why. One approach involves observing behavioral patterns and physical sensations as indicators of anxiety, even when the emotion itself is not immediately apparent. For instance, an individual might recognise avoidance behaviors or physical symptoms like tension or rapid heartbeat as signs of anxiety, even if they don't consciously feel anxious. Another way is to notice the behaviours that you are doing and respond with curiosity, such as “hmm, why did i do that? Could it be because i might be unnerved by something? What might that be?”. You can see me talk about how i do this myself if you are interested. Go to this video of myself and my colleague talking about our own anxiety and working with autistic clients as well.
Strategies for Management and Support
Addressing anxiety requires a multifaceted approach:
Understand the causes of anxiety, and its manifestations, can be empowering and provide a foundation for self-management.
Advocating for necessary accommodations in school, work, or other settings can significantly reduce environmental stressors.
Connecting with other autistic people can provide a sense of community and shared understanding.
Of course we have all heard about coping mechanisms and relaxation strategies. Well the techniques that ‘everyone’ uses might not be useful or efective for you. But together we can explore in detail over time, and find ways, unique to you, that do work managing anxious thoughts and increasing ability to cope and tolerate and even emerge from being anxious.
My Role With You
I think therapists do play a crucial role in supporting autistic people with anxiety. When we get to know each other a little, and understand what is going on in your life, we can start to piece together how things impact you, why they do, and what you need.
As a therapist I take anxiety seriously and know how it can be a big part of everyday experiences. Anxiety does manifest differently in each person and together we can gain deeper understanding and develop strategies that resonate with your experiences and needs.
Conclusion
Anxiety for us autistic people is a complex and, sadly, often misunderstood aspect of the autistic experience. By recognising the pervasive nature of this anxiety, understanding its roots in uncertainty and unsafety, and acknowledging the impact of social, sensory and environmental factors, we can begin to develop more effective support strategies. As our understanding grows, so does the potential for us to find relief from the often overwhelming experience of anxiety, leading to improved quality of life and greater overall well-being.
If you think that you might like to be listened to or share your experiences for collaborative exploration and insights, feel free to get in touch.