06/20/2025
Anxiety piggie backs Autism and often times takes the wheel.
For William, it takes the wheel.
Excitement, fear, unknown, mistreatment, teasing, holidays, birthdays, visitors…all take on anxiety in different forms.
I am truly thankful for Williams medical/therapy team who have done a great job over the years finding the right mix of medications to enhance the enjoyment of his days not only for his anxiety but for his ADHD and insomnia as well.
None of them “cure” his struggles. However they help him regulate while he learns to cope in tough situations using skills he’s been learning and practicing for over 12 years.
One of those coping mechanisms is simply ACTION.
We’re teaching him to control what he can and let the rest go.
A tough lesson for all of us and especially tough for a neurodivergent brain.
Storms cause an abundance of fear stemming from an F-1 tornado that blew through our neighborhood over 6 years ago in the late night hours.
With wind whipping and sirens blaring, I scooped him out of bed waking him from a deep sleep and right downstairs to take cover.
This has stayed with him and may for a lifetime.
All week he obsessed over the weather app on his phone with the impending doom of severe storms and possible tornados. It was constant conversation and reassurance.
William knows what preparation we do when tornados are in the forecast. He knew what we gather and where to put it.
He came home from school and promptly readied our safe space. I sat back and watched him in action.
Strong box with important papers, candle and lighter, towels incase the dogs get scared and p*e 🙂, phones charging, car keys, water bottles, shoes and his PlayStation, of course.
His blankets and pillows were with him ready to go.
Those storms never came, but his actions led to comfort and that helped him stay calmer through those waiting hours.
