ASD BLOG - Written by Julia Curtis

Throughout the years, individuals within the autism community have been misdiagnosed or diagnosed

late in adulthood, stigmatized, and misunderstood. This has had a significant impact on the mental

health well-being of autistic individuals and further delays appropriate mental health treatment. In

order to help improve mental health services for an autistic individual, it is crucial to increase the

awareness and understanding of the diagnosis, recognize and appreciate the strengths, vulnerabilities,

and differences across the spectrum, and encourage proactive screening for an ASD diagnosis. Creating

a space to feel heard, valued, and supported can help individuals within the autism community feel

accepted and less alone in the many challenges they experience.

What is autism spectrum disorder?

According to the DSM-5, ASD is classified as a broad range of conditions that is characterized by

challenges with social skills (relationships and communication), repetitive behaviors, speech, and non-

verbal communication (misinterpreting non-verbal cues, missing non-verbal cues, delayed processing,

etc). ASD is viewed on a wide spectrum, meaning that each individual has their own set of unique

strengths and challenges that range from highly skilled to severe impairments. Some individuals with

autism require substantial daily support whereas others need less support and are capable of living

independently.

What are some challenges Individuals diagnosed with ASD face?

While autistic individuals can struggle with their own set of issues, there are a few common challenges

that have been acknowledged across the spectrum. Some of these would include:

Social Communication: Social interaction is a major area where an autistic person tends to struggle.

Although there is a strong desire to form meaningful relationships, the social deficits of this diagnosis

can make it fairly difficult to establish and sustain connections. Some challenges an autistic person can

experience are difficulty making eye contact, difficulty volleying back and forth in conversations, lack of

response or delayed responses in verbal communication, and difficulties expressing wants, needs, and

emotions.

Emotional Regulation: Regulating emotions requires an individual to effectively use coping skills that

will help manage the intense emotional reactions to life’s stressors. Being able to self-regulate first

begins with the awareness and understanding of emotional triggers. The overwhelming amount of

sensory stimuli an autistic person endures can make this step difficult to employ. Although every person

with an autism diagnosis processes sensory input differently, a clear indication for anyone having a

difficult time managing emotions would be a change in behavior. For an autistic person, sometimes this

can look like: self-stimulating behaviors (flapping, finger-flicking, pacing, rocking, repeatedly listening to

the same song or noises, moving to a quiet place, running, moving on from one task to another,

constantly moving using fidget objects, etc) self-injury, or aggression.

Adjustment: Individual’s within the autism community often prefer routine and structure throughout

their everyday life. It can be comfortable knowing what to expect, as most people would agree, but it

can become a bit more problematic for an autistic person. Individuals within the autism community can

become overwhelmed with feelings of anxiety and engage in behaviors that range from meltdowns,

panic attacks, escaping, avoidance, moderate-severe anxiety symptoms, and anywhere in between.

Co-occurring disorders: Individual’s who have an autism diagnosis tend to struggle with many co-

occurring mental health conditions including anxiety disorders, mood disorders, oppositional defiant

disorder, ADHD, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Recent research suggests that about 70% of

individuals diagnosed with ASD have at least one or more co-occurring mental health disorders. These

high rates of co-occurring disorders have significant implications for an autistic person. These

implications can mask ASD symptoms, causing a delay in diagnosis, or require additional medication to

treat various mental health conditions.

How can I support an individual with Autism?

Whether you are a counselor, social worker, doctor, friend, or parent there are many ways you can

support an individual within the ASD community. Developing a safe and comfortable environment,

where an autistic person can be their authentic self, cannot be stressed enough. In this environment, we

can help the individual build a positive self-image and embrace their diagnosis by encouraging self-

acceptance and compassion. Individuals who have an autistic diagnosis tend to be particularly hard on

themselves when comparing themselves to neurodivergent and neurotypical people. Redirecting the

focus on the individual’s unique strengths and resilience can inspire the individual to feel proud,

empathetic, and confident towards oneself. Lastly, if you notice an autistic person struggling with

regulating their emotions, try not to ask questions or place demands. Instead, express understanding by

allowing the individual to self-soothe in the way they feel most comfortable. At a different time, you can

help the individual identify triggers and warning signs as a preventative measure.

What are some coping skills that could help?

As a certified autism specialist, there are a few coping strategies that I typically suggest when helping an

autistic person effectively cope and manage anxiety and distress. A few of these include:

Mindfulness: For some individuals diagnosed with autism, seeking sensory stimuli can be a helpful way

of coping with over- or under- stimulation. Some mindfulness activities to give a try are:

1. Body scan- start at your head, tense your muscles for 5 seconds, slowly release the tension,

and continue this process all the way down to your toes.

2. Take a walk- Focus on what you are seeing and hearing in your environment and how it

makes you feel.

3. Five senses (54321)- list 5 things you see, 4 things you hear, 3 things you can touch, 2 things

you smell, and 1 thing you can taste.

Breathing Skills: A couple of breathing skills such as box breathing (inhale 4 secs, hold 4 secs, exhale 4

secs, pause 4 secs, repeat) and 4-7-8 method (inhale 4 secs, hold 7 secs, exhale 8 secs), can be extremely

helpful at calming the nervous system and allow an individual to relax and think more clearly.

Grounding Skills: As stated, soothing activities are usually one of the best ways to help an autistic

person rebalance emotionally. A few grounding skills I suggest are:

1. Touch an object around you (focus on textures, temperature, colors, and patterns)

2. Run cool or warm water over your hands.

3. Describe an everyday activity in your environment in detail.

4. Carrying a fidget toy around, small enough to fit in your pocket, and hold, squeeze, or spin the

toy whenever feeling distressed.

Positive Affirmations: Building a positive self-image and using positive statements daily can be both

soothing and encouraging. When we practice self-compassion, we pave the way for better health,

relationships, and a well-balanced life. Make a list of 10 things you like about yourself whether that is

appearance, personality traits, or strengths. Once you have written them down, try to repeat these to

yourself several times a day.