Anxiety in ASD kids

[Anonymous]

2nd grader DS, with an ASD diagnosis. Has a few obsessions but nothing overly crazy. Lately, we noticed he has a lot of anxiety pretty much about everything, incl. stuff he never used to give a damn about. Example: he's terrified of being late. School bus, lunch, his specials, everything. Anything unfamiliar or undesirable makes him cry and he was never a crybaby. Example: yesterday I brought him a book I thought he'd like. It's about subway systems around the world, lots of pictures. He started wailing that reading is stupid, he hates reading, he is afraid of reading and he never wants to read again. He reads above his grade level, his teachers praise him for his reading abilities.


Is this what anxiety is? Or is he going through some growth spurt? Anything we can do to help him? We really don't want this to escalate.

[Anonymous]

Sorry you are going through this, OP. Could it just be beginning of the year jitters? New classroom, new teacher, new classmates?

[Anonymous]

My son had major anxiety about being late. He would almost vomit if we got stuck behind a school bus on the way to school or he wasn't one of the first to arrive at school. He's in Middle School now and has no problem being late!! He used to be very afraid of dogs and now he is asleep with his dog on the bed (we only got a dog because he begged for one!). So, these things can change. When my son had issues like that, we went to Alvord Baker in Rockville and got him therapy for his anxiety (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy). Anxiety can flare up and calm down. Keep your eye out for OCD behaviors too. Now my son is on a low dose medication but we didn't start that until he was 11 years old.

[Anonymous]

That may be what it is. My DC with ASD has it. I was once in a room with other parents whose kids have ASD and one said that their DC seemed to be developing some anxiety about XYZ. Around the room there were knowing, empathetic nods. The parent who had spoken up seemed surprised and sort of relieved to find they were not alone. So, you aren't alone either!

Who was the person who diagnosed your DC? Would they be able to help ID the problem? Is that someone you and/or your DC trust? Do you have any other therapists that might help?