People with Asperger's syndrome have an increased rate of experiencing a co-occurring mental health disorder. Anxiety and depression are the most commonly occurring mental health disorders in people with Asperger's Syndrome.
For many people with Asperger's syndrome, depression and anxiety can look like irritability, frustration, and aggression. It is important that family members and caregivers use the generally strong vocabulary of a person with Asperger's Syndrome to discuss anxiety and depression. Talking about things that make your child anxious can help to reduce anxiety.
It can also help your child to realize that you do want to understand them and that they are not alone. People with Asperger's Syndrome are often acutely aware that they are more isolated and do not bond easily with others. This can be very hard for the person to deal with.
If you do have a child with Asperger's Syndrome who shows signs of depression or anxiety, it is important to find someone to work with them that has experience and skills working with a person with Asperger's Syndrome.
Book of the Week: Managing anxiety in people with autism : a treatment guide for parents, teachers, and mental health professionals / Anne M. Chalfant. Woodbine House, 2011. Table of contents includes definition of anxiety, why anxiety is a common problem for people with ASD, and treatments.
This book is in the SESA Library. You may search the library catalog via the SESA website (http://www.sesa.org), or contact Anne directly by email at afreitag@sesa.org or by phone at 907-334-1301.
