When you think of typical autistic characteristics, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder may not be the first things that come to mind. However, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America reports that anxiety disorders are the most common co-occurring conditions associated with autism.
Anxiety and OCD often present differently in autistic children than in their typical peers. This is one reason these conditions may be overlooked.
Identifying Anxiety and OCD in Autistic Children
Anxiety in neurotypical children may result in stomach aches, lack of concentration, or poor eating and sleeping habits. While these symptoms may also be present in autistic children there are less traditional symptoms to be aware of as well such as:
- Meltdowns
- Stimming
- Specific phobias or fears
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or unwanted and intrusive thoughts, and compulsive behaviors
- Social anxiety or separation anxiety
- Extreme distress as a response to changes in their environment or routine
Pinpointing the Cause of Anxiety and OCD in Autistic Children
Finding the root cause of your child’s anxiety or OCD can be a challenging process. However, some of the common causes are simple enough to investigate.
- PANS or PANDAS: If your child’s anxiety or OCD occurs suddenly (overnight) and includes tics, eating restrictions, rage, and depression, your child may be suffering from one of these rare but serious conditions. If you suspect your child has PANS or PANDAS you should seek care from your medical provider immediately. To learn more about PANS and PANDAS visit the Child Mind Institute.
- Vitamin or nutrient deficiencies
- Elevated glutamate and low GABA in the brain
- Gastrointestinal issues: An imbalance in the gut microbiome
- Neuroinflammation
- Retained primitive reflexes: Retained primitive reflexes can leave your child in a constant state of “fight or flight” which can lead to an increase in anxiety
- High histamine levels: This can indicate that your child is a poor methylator
- Poor adrenal function and neurotransmitter balance: This is another issue that can get kids stuck in the “fight or flight” response and predispose them to poor stress management
Finding the Right Solution
Unfortunately, there’s no magic bullet when it comes to finding the right treatment for your child’s anxiety. Most often you’ll need a combination of approaches. Here are a few you may consider:
- Talk with your child: It can be helpful to talk with your child about what anxiety is, when it happens, and what it feels like physically and emotionally. For autistic kids, who often have difficulty with perspective-taking, it can be comforting for them to understand they’re not alone.
The more you talk with your child about their anxiety, the more it normalizes the discussion around this and other mental health issues. - Don’t Dismiss Medication: Traditional anxiety medicine like Paxil or Zoloft can be helpful, even if just used short-term to give other interventions a chance to start working. Natural remedies often take more time to work so it might be worth investigating SSRIs depending on the severity of your child’s condition.
It’s important to remember that children with autism are often more sensitive to medicine or have an atypical reaction to medicine. Start slowly, and follow your medical provider’s guidance closely. - Consider Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): One of the more effective types of therapy for kids with anxiety, especially for kids with autism, is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. This form of therapy addresses an individual’s immediate negative responses by breaking problems up into smaller more manageable pieces and fostering positive reactions to those problems.
If you’re considering this form of therapy, make sure you find a therapist who’s not only trained in CBT but also familiar with autism. - Investigate Natural Options: If you’re like me you may tend to consider natural interventions first. There are plenty of options available that can make a big difference in your child’s anxiety.
- Magnesium: There’s a reason magnesium comes up so often in my videos: it helps with 250-300 reactions in the body. Supplementing your child’s magnesium levels can also help with their anxiety.
- GABA Supplements: Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is sometimes known as herbal Xanax because it can help calm the nervous system. Unlike actual Xanax, GABA is non-sedating and not addictive making it a healthier choice for kids. You can buy GABA in a variety of forms such as pills, chewables, and lozenges.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid has no relationship to gabapentin which is an anticonvulsant used to treat seizures.
Check out my recommendation for effective GABA supplements in my Autism Essentials List. - L-theanine: This is an effective treatment to help children with racing thoughts. L-theanine won’t slow their thoughts down, but it will help tame some of those worried thoughts. This amino acid is often given in conjunction with GABA. In fact, I frequently recommend a GABA and L-theanine combination for my patients.
You can find my L-theanine recommendation in my Autism Essentials List. - B Vitamins: Methylation requires certain vitamins and nutrients to move forward. B vitamins are all really important to methylation and histamine regulation. Giving a good dose of methylated B vitamins can be helpful for children struggling with anxiety and OCD.
I usually encourage my clients to start slow with B Vitamins. Starting too high can send your child into overdrive. Consult with a trusted functional medicine practitioner to determine what dose is right for your child. - Iron and Zinc Supplements: If your child has iron or zinc deficiencies this can affect their ability to manage stress. Adding iron and zinc supplements to their routine may help reduce their overall anxiety.
- Magnesium: There’s a reason magnesium comes up so often in my videos: it helps with 250-300 reactions in the body. Supplementing your child’s magnesium levels can also help with their anxiety.
Watching your child struggle with anxiety or OCD is a helpless feeling. I hope, with this guidance, you’re able to find some safe and helpful strategies so you and your child can get unstuck.
Be gentle with yourself. You’re doing a great job.
I hope this information has been helpful to you as part of creating Your Autism Game Plan.
Do you have a topic you’d like to learn more about? Email me at joya@yourautismgameplan.com
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