Panic attacks are generally brought on by concentrated bouts of anxiety or distress, which is why panic attacks are commonly associated with anxiety disorders. Frequent panic attacks can be the result of a diagnosed panic disorder, which can occur in children with ASD. The sudden shortness of breath and chest pain may feel like a heart attack. The physical symptoms can be terrifying to a child experiencing a panic attack for the first time.
Some individuals find relaxation in using certain herbal remedies and aromatherapies, which should be thoroughly researched before use.Īccording to the Mayo Clinic (2020), a panic attack is described as an episode of intense fear that can actually trigger physical reactions during times where there is no obvious cause or danger. This includes staying active in physical exercise and in hobbies/activities of interest, meditating, and practicing breathing techniques in the midst of anxiety-related episodes. Once anxiety sets in, an affected person can wait it out with already administered medication as well as incorporate the use of non-medicinal strategies. Other prevention strategies include getting an adequate amount of sleep, eating a healthy diet, and avoiding alcohol and chemical stimulants (i.e. social participation) via therapy or counseling. Some parents and children may also opt for non-pharmaceutical techniques such as calming strategies, breathing techniques, minimizing trigger exposure, and/or working through triggers (i.e. Consistently scheduled medication can prevent oncoming symptoms. Pharmaceutical intervention is commonly used for diagnosed anxiety disorders, including in young children who could not otherwise function without. There are literally hundreds of possible triggers, and each child will respond differently depending on associations built up around those triggers. For children with ASD, anxiety can stem from less common triggers such as an unexpected change in routine, trying new food, losing a favorite toy or comfort tool, speaking to new people at school, taking a test, going to the store, and so on. Examples usually include people, objects, or situations which cause intense worry including public speaking, doing academically well in school, work requirements, and family obligations. Triggers heavily depend on what type of anxiety disorder the child may have. Several types of anxiety include phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder, separation anxiety, and social anxiety. Roughly 40% of young people with autism have anxiety or at least one type of anxiety disorder (Burchi & Hollander, 2020). However, anxiety disorder is a full-blown mental health condition which causes debilitating and prolonged nervousness and apprehension with physical manifestations such as increased blood pressure and elevated heart rate. However, parents, caregivers, and clinicians understand how prevalent these conditions are among those with autism.Īnxiety as a stand-alone word is a state of nervousness or worry. There is no immediate mention of anxiety, panic attacks, and meltdowns being mentioned as diagnostic qualifiers for an autism diagnosis (which makes sense, since not all cases present this way).
Occasionally, ASD is also paired with other disorders and language impairments. social participation, work, activities of daily living, etc.). Symptoms of ASD are often present in early childhood and persist through life causing difficulties in multiple areas of function (i.e. In addition, these symptoms can also increase autism wandering, adding extra stress and worry to those dealing with autism.Īutism is a “spectrum”, this means that each case varies in severity. Those challenges are further escalated by the combined presence of anxiety, panic attacks, and/or meltdowns.
#AUTISM MELTDOWN IN ADULTS HOW TO#
Depending on each and every individual case, parents, teachers, professionals, and other relevant caregivers face challenges about how to best go about meeting these kids’ needs. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can struggle greatly with figuring out how to operate in the world around them.
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