I was sent this great article about anxiety and Asperger’s from one of my wonderful parents last week and was blown away by the insights inside. The article provides a unique look into how anxiety is felt by the individual with Asperger’s while also giving parents and practitioners a new way of addressing challenging behaviors that this author attributes almost exclusively to anxiety. Aside from being a person with Asperger’s herself, the author is also a mother of children with ASD. I’ve provided a short excerpt from the article below but you really must read the full article to see its true worth.

Excerpt from the Article written by Jennifer O’Toole, author of “Asperkids”.
“What most neurotypicals don’t realize is that we spectrumites, whose bodies and minds are wired differently, live with varying levels and intensities of almost perpetual anxiety. That may sound paranoid — but it’s not. Paranoia is irrational fear. Most Aspies or autistics have been bullied (often many times over by children, adults, even teachers and family members), are constantly assaulted by sensory input, must fend their way daily through social situations which seem random and chaotic, and often think we are at the top of our games when, in fact, the rug is about to be pulled out from under us. In other words, our anxiety is an absolutely rational reaction to the experiences we have.”

FULL ARTICLE AT: http://autismsocietyofnc.wordpress.com/2012/11/14/stuffed-allies-and-dignity-how-understanding-anxiety-can-save-the-day/