Ep. 49: Understanding and Addressing Anxiety in Autism – Strategies for Special Education

The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA Professionals

This episode explores the intersection of autism and anxiety, highlighting how to identify and address anxiety-driven behaviors in students with autism through evidence-based, student-centered approaches.
✨ Key Takeaways
✔️ We address a recent Facebook group question about trichotillomania and anxiety.
✔️ Recognizing Anxiety in Autism: Girls with autism often exhibit higher levels of social anxiety due to heightened awareness of social differences.
✔️ The Evolution of ABA: 20 years ago, internal events like anxiety were often ignored in behavior analysis. Today, there's a stronger focus on addressing underlying causes.
✔️ Avoid the "Whack-a-Mole" Game: Replacing a behavior without addressing the root issue can lead to other problem behaviors emerging.
✔️ Strategies That Work: Combine behavioral interventions (like DRI) with approaches that reduce anxiety triggers and stressors.
📚 Resources and Ideas
✔️ Grab the free anxiety visuals here
✔️ See the Calm Corner visuals to support your classroom here
📘 Journal Articles – Some useful articles to check out:
An update on anxiety in youth with autism spectrum disorders (reviews recent evidence regarding the characteristics, assessment, and treatment of anxiety in youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders)
Anxiety in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Clinical Characteristics and the Role of the Family (examines anxiety disorders as common psychiatric comorbidities in children and adolescents with ASD)
🌐 Find Dana at High Ground Divorces
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