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Lesson 4: Worry, stress
In the last lesson, we went through how communication and interaction can function differently when you have autism. You also received tips and advice on how to handle different situations in daily life, for example using visual support, talking in pictures, social stories and joint problem solving. In lesson 4, we will focus on worry and stress, which are common with autism.
On stress
What causes us to become stressed? And what exactly is a stressor? You’ll learn more about this in the video.
Remember!
- We become stressed when we face pressure and expectations that we struggle to manage.
- How we react to stress can vary from one person to the next.
- When you see that your child is stressed, it is good to try to understand why.
- If you understand why your child is stressed, it will be easier to help create a sense of calm and prevent stress.
Causes of stress
Stress can produce different reactions and have many different causes. In this video, you will learn more about that.
Remember!
Long-term stress can lead to mental illness, which is why it is important to recognise signs of stress and find out the cause.
Autism and stress
In this video, we go through how children with autism might express stress.
Remember!
A child with autism may
- become stressed by something that others find simple
- express stress differently.
The child’s reaction is an attempt to solve the situation. Your child’s reaction is not always logical to other people. For example, they may start laughing in a stressful situation. This can be a way to create distance from something difficult.
Stress reactions
In this video, we give several examples of stress reactions in children with autism.
Remember!
A child with autism may
When your child is reacting with stress, do not try to change the child. Instead, try to change what is causing them stress.
Stressful situations
In this video, we go through what is often perceived as stressful with autism.
Remember!
Examples of situations that might be stressful with autism:
- unpredictable events
- change of activity
- busy environments
- various changes
- physical discomfort.
Stress as a teenager
In this video, we discuss stressors among teenagers.
Remember!
The things that are stressful for all adolescents are also stressful for adolescents with autism. Because social relationships and experiences of your own body are different with autism, some things, such as friendships and going through puberty, can be extra challenging.
Thoughts of the diagnosis itself can also be stressful.
Risk factors and protective factors
We have now discussed stressors and stress reactions. Now we will move on to talk about what we can change.
Remember!
Risk factors and protective factors can be found both with the child and in their surroundings. It is important to prevent stress. Reduce risk factors and increase protective factors.
Examples of risk factors:
- changes
- excessive demands
- negative experiences
- mood
- busy environments.
Examples of protective factors:
- low arousal approach
- everyday skills
- self-confidence
- structure and preparations
- good experiences.
Risk factors and protective factors.pdf
The stress cup and chaos curve
In this video, we explain how the stress cup and chaos curve are connected. By understanding how they are connected, you can more easily avoid the child finding themselves in chaos.
Remember!
In a state of chaos:
- Take a step back, leave the child in peace.
- Wait to talk until the child is calm.
The focus should be on helping the person regain their self-control. That is why it is important to exude a sense of calm (no chatter, cheer or admonitions). Make sure they have somewhere to retreat to, enough distance, and a chance to take part in a restful activity. Distract them and give them time. When the child is completely calm again, you can talk. Use talking in pictures to sort out what happened.
And remember that worry and stress can manifest in different ways, and will not always lead to outbursts and chaos. It may not always be outwardly apparent, but the person may still be experiencing strong emotions inside.
The stress cup and chaos curve.pdf
Parents explain
Stress with autism
Listen to parents talk about how their children react to worry and stress. Emil also talks about his experience of worry and stress.
Conclusion lesson 4
Great work!
You’re now finished with the fourth part of the parents class.
During the webinar/follow-up, we will discuss what you’ve gone through so far in this parents class.
Consider
- Do you identify with anything (relating to you or your child) heard in the first part of the class?
- Does your child have additional challenges that are unrelated to autism?
- What was it like when you learned that your child has autism?
Lesson content
If you would rather read the content of the videos from lesson 4, you can click on the document below.