Stress is part of life
Stress is a naturally occurring physical reaction and it is a part of everyday life. We all experience it from time to time. Not all stress is bad.
Individuals vary in the way they experience, react to and cope with stress. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other disabilities may find it much harder to deal with stress. Stress is not 100 percent avoidable, however, there are things we can do to better understand and manage stress.
Causes of stress
Examples of everyday stressors
- Misplacing or losing things
- Troubling thoughts about your future
- Financial problems
- Arguments
- Having to wait/not enough time
- Too many responsibilities
Examples of major life events that cause stress
- Death of a spouse or close family member
- Divorce/separation
- Marital separation
- Personal injury or illness
- Job loss
Causes of stress for people with ASD
- Unstructured time (waiting in line, down time between tasks)
- Understanding what to do and how to do it
- Changes in plans/routines
- Sensory issues
- Crowds
- Noise
- Smells
- Bathing
- Clothing
- Social situations
How to Manage Stress
#1 Get ahead of known stressors
If someone has difficulty waiting in line they could have something to keep them busy while they wait
If someone is stressed about change, explain by using visual supports such as updated tasks lists, calendars or sticky notes
#2 Practice slow breathing techniques
#3 Practice mindfulness
Mindfullness is a skill. “It is about being right here, right now. Not getting bogged down with your own feelings, your own emotions, and not being so in your head that you can’t see what’s going on around you. So it’s the state of being present, the state of being aware.” (Maria Gonzalez, author of Mindful Leadership)
#4 Use stress management apps
- View a general list of apps for stress management
- Learn about these free apps
- Read more about stress management
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