Autistic people face many challenges every day of their lives. They have difficulty communicating. They can not process language adequately and they have many sensory issues as well. Many autistic people live in isolation even when they are surrounding by a loving family. Depression and anxiety are two major obstacles that autistic people face.
Since it is so difficult for an autistic person to convey their thoughts and feelings, the fact that they are suffering from depression or anxiety is often overlooked. For many fully functional people, expressing the fact that they have either of these conditions can be very difficult, and for someone who already has communication issues it is not surprising that so many people with autism have their depression or anxiety go completely unnoticed.
Anxiety seems to be an everyday thing for someone with autism, as they try to navigate through life with all of its twists and turns. Often just a slight change of routine will create anxiety, but this does not mean that they have an anxiety disorder, rather that they are just trying to get through their next task when something in their environment has changed.
An autistic person will likely feel cut off from everyone else, which is why they are often thought to be suffering from depression, however this condition as well as anxiety disorders are very difficult to diagnose and treat. Unlike a person with full ability to communicate, and autistic person is unable to tell you if they are feeling better.
Many choose to treat depression and anxiety in autism with medication. Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications are often used in autistic cases even when the autistic person has not been diagnosed with depression and anxiety. Doctors have found that the antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications help autistic people stay on task and decrease stereotyped movements often associated with autistic disorder.
I have worked with one autistic girl for several years. As she got older, she demonstrated some signs of depression and anxiety. Her parents consulted with her doctor who prescribed an antidepressant medication. I added some light therapy and some sensory integration activities into her therapy routine. We also introduced emotions into her program. Her depression and anxiety have lessened and she is functioning very well on the medication. Her attention to tasks has also improved greatly.
Parents who are faced with the possibility of their autistic son's or daughter's depression and anxiety may want to consider talking to their child's doctor. He may have a recommendation that will help lessen the despair and hopelessness associated with depression and anxiety so their child can focus on other things. - 16004
Since it is so difficult for an autistic person to convey their thoughts and feelings, the fact that they are suffering from depression or anxiety is often overlooked. For many fully functional people, expressing the fact that they have either of these conditions can be very difficult, and for someone who already has communication issues it is not surprising that so many people with autism have their depression or anxiety go completely unnoticed.
Anxiety seems to be an everyday thing for someone with autism, as they try to navigate through life with all of its twists and turns. Often just a slight change of routine will create anxiety, but this does not mean that they have an anxiety disorder, rather that they are just trying to get through their next task when something in their environment has changed.
An autistic person will likely feel cut off from everyone else, which is why they are often thought to be suffering from depression, however this condition as well as anxiety disorders are very difficult to diagnose and treat. Unlike a person with full ability to communicate, and autistic person is unable to tell you if they are feeling better.
Many choose to treat depression and anxiety in autism with medication. Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications are often used in autistic cases even when the autistic person has not been diagnosed with depression and anxiety. Doctors have found that the antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications help autistic people stay on task and decrease stereotyped movements often associated with autistic disorder.
I have worked with one autistic girl for several years. As she got older, she demonstrated some signs of depression and anxiety. Her parents consulted with her doctor who prescribed an antidepressant medication. I added some light therapy and some sensory integration activities into her therapy routine. We also introduced emotions into her program. Her depression and anxiety have lessened and she is functioning very well on the medication. Her attention to tasks has also improved greatly.
Parents who are faced with the possibility of their autistic son's or daughter's depression and anxiety may want to consider talking to their child's doctor. He may have a recommendation that will help lessen the despair and hopelessness associated with depression and anxiety so their child can focus on other things. - 16004
About the Author:
Jimmy Johnson is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about Autism Depression visit Treating Autism Today for informative articles and discussions.
