1. Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010
Antidotes to Anxiety
Young People & ASD
Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010

2. Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010
Anxiety is Normal
Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010

3. Anxiety can be exciting….
Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010

4. Too much of anything is good for nothing!
Too much anxiety?
Too much of anything is good for nothing!
Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010

5. Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010
Nature of Anxiety
Mild to severe
Always present
Periodic
Situational
Panic
Normal to abnormal
Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010

6. Useful Information about Anxiety
Information sometimes “normalises” the unusual!!
You are not mad.
You are not bad.
You are not sick.
Biological base to anxiety
Elimination of anxiety not realistic
Coping with anxiety is realistic
Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010

7. Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010
ANXIETY
Anxiety is hard to say. Other words that mean anxiety are worry, fear, panic and stress.
A little anxiety is a good thing. Everybody feels anxiety. It is normal to worry a little, to be a little afraid, to panic sometimes or to feel some stress. A little anxiety helps us to do things for ourselves. A little anxiety helps us to be careful.
Too much anxiety is not helpful. Some people know that they become too anxious because Your heart beats very quickly and you have not been running; Your hands sweat; It is hard to breathe; Your tummy feels funny; Your thoughts are confused; and You might become angry or upset.
Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010

8. Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010
Types of Anxiety
Generalised Anxiety
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Panic Disorder
Phobias
School Avoidance
Selective Mutism
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010

9. Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010

10. Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010

11. Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010
Stinkin’ Thinkin’
Common Thinking Errors
Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010

12. Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010
Black & White Thinking
If X < Y then X = Z
X = The Situation
Y = Perfection
Z = Total Failure
Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010

13. Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010
Black & White Thinking
Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010

14. Antidote to B & W Thinking
Look for the shades of grey; look for colour
Reflective Questions:
Is it really so bad?
Am I taking an extreme view?
Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010

15. Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010
Unfair Comparisons
Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010

16. Perfectionist Thinking
Am I making fair comparisons?
Am I comparing myself to people who have a particular advantage?
Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010

17. Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010
Negative Filter
Am I looking at the negatives and ignoring the positives?
Is there a more balanced way to look at this?
Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010

18. Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010

19. Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010
Mind Reading
Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010

20. Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010
Mind Reading
Assumptions are not always right.
Other people are more than likely thinking of themselves rather than thinking of you.
What evidence do you have for this?
Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010

21. Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010
Personalising
Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010

22. Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010
Catastrophising
What’s the worst that can happen
What’s the best that can happen?
Will this really matter in 5 years time?
Is there anything good about this?
What’s most likely to happen?
Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010

23. Magnification….. Minification
What are the facts?
What are my interpretations?
Am I over generalising?
Am I minimizing?
Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010

24. Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010
Labelling
I am stupid…ugly…boring…useless…a loser
He is a creep…retarded…a failure…dopey.
Stick to the facts and not the interpretations:
Doing something poorly does not mean that you are ……..
Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010

25. Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010

26. Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010
Can’t standitis
Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference!!
Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010

27. Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010
Should…Must…..Ought……
When you “fail”……guilt
When others fail…..unrealistic expectations…..resentment follows.
Seamas Feehan, Regional ASD Service, Feb 2010