The month of April is Autism Awareness Month. And, the state of California has been told to shelter in place throughout April during the COVID-19 crisis. So, I have decided to dedicate my April Blog Series to helping people with autism and their loved ones not only survive but thrive while they are home.
I want to take a moment and acknowledge that this is a time of uncertainty, fear, and heavy hearts for many people. But, there can be a glimmer of hope. Today, I wanted to talk about the benefits of sheltering in place for teens and adults with autism.
While they shelter in place, many people with autism may have less stress and anxiety
Many autistic teens and adults experience anxiety every day in the world. But, this is reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic because they don’t have to, and are discouraged from, interacting with people outside their homes. Because they are not out in the world, they don’t have to deal with “social overload” or “sensory overload”. For those of you who are introverts, this is a time of rest and recuperation. Resulting in less stress for teens and adults on the autism spectrum. Lower levels of stress is a great thing right now because it can help your immune system function better.
Less Social Anxiety
You or your loved one with autism may deeply desire friendships. But, social interactions can be a great source of daily anxiety. Also, making friends and maintaining friendships can be very energy-depleting when you’re on the spectrum.Many of my clients with autism describe that by the end of the workday or school day, they feel “spent.” They just want to be by themselves. In fact, they tend to have higher baseline levels of stress and anxiety because of their chronic social challenges.
Social distancing offers individuals with autism an extended break from social demands and anxiety. During this time you, or your child with autism, can recharge your social battery. Ultimately, My hope is that after sheltering in place ends, you or your child with autism may feel a renewed interest in making friends.
Less Social Pressure
Many neurodiverse people feel pressure to interact with others and start conversations. Many of my clients on the spectrum describe feeling like they are somehow less than others. Or they may feel ashamed because they can’t keep up with these social demands and expectations.
Interestingly, right now societal and family expectations have changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You or your loved one with autism are less likely to feel pressured by others to interact with people. Temporarily, your behavior matches the norm. You may feel a break from being judged or criticized by others. Hopefully, this will provide you with a sense of relief and calm.
Less Sensory Overload
For many autistic people, during a typical day, they have to tolerate sensory assault in the outside world. This may include things such as loud noises, unpleasant smells, and bright lights. Many of my neurodiverse clients describe how as the day wears on, these assaults on the senses add up. By the end of the day, they feel worn out, stressed, and in need of alone time.
Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, the world has now almost come to a standstill. It’s like a dampening effect. A quieting or calming effect for teens and adults with autism. This gives them a chance to regulate and settle their nervous system.
More Time to Enjoy Activities
Engaging in activities that bring you joy and are rewarding, can reduce stress hormones in your body, like cortisol. At the same time, it can increase a variety of “feel-good” hormones, like dopamine and serotonin. This can improve your overall immune function, and help protect you against the Coronavirus.
While sheltering in place, you can improve your health and mood by doing activities you enjoy from the comfort of home. Some great options include: reading, cuddling with your pet, video-gaming, listening or playing music, writing or drawing, and learning a new skill (like learning a new programming language or how to play chess).
Less Stress: Immune Benefits and Social Benefits
Having a break from social demands may help your or you neurodiverse family member recharge their social battery. Also, having the time to focus on positive, mood-boosting activities may help improve help decrease your anxiety. This will benefit your immune function too!
So many people with autism I work with live with really high levels of anxiety. They are always on edge. Hopefully, your nervous system can settle down while you shelter in place because you’ll experience less sensory stimulation and fewer social demands. Feeling settled and re-energized could help you or your loved one with autism engage with the world when it’s time to be social again.
Stay Tuned for More Autism Tips While You Shelter in Place During the COVID-19 Crisis
I hope this article has helped you reflect on the benefits that can come out of this sheltering in place experience for you or your loved one with autism.
This blog does not speak to all people with autism. Some autistic people might be feeling more worried and anxious during this global pandemic. Especially, if you have a tendency to get stuck on thinking about the worst-case scenario. Other people with autism might be craving more social connection, during this time of social distancing.
In upcoming blogs, I will give tips for managing worst-case scenario fears, and for great ways to increase social connection. I will also provide information on creating a stress-releasing and immune-boosting routine. Additionally, I will have a blog dedicated to providing parents with strategies to keep the peace in their homes while sheltering in place with their child with autism.
For more interesting information on Autism related topics please visit my other blog series: navigating college on the spectrum, social skills in the workplace, women with autism. Finally, check out the autism resources page here on my site for more and updated information during the COVID 19 health crisis.
Timely Resources to Help You in the Coming Days: Free Autism Newsletter
At Open Doors Therapy, we are dedicated to providing practical information for parents of youth with autism, neurodiverse adults, and providers who support people on the spectrum. The April 2020 Newsletter will contain blogs and tips to better handle living with neurodiversity during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Visit Our Autism Resource Page
We will be regularly updating our Resource Page, our Facebook page, and our LinkedIn Page. We’ll provide up to date tips and support to people with autism and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Consider Joining our Online Autism Parent Support Group
During this global pandemic and sheltering in place, you may be experiencing more stress around parenting your teen with autism or neurodiverse young adult. We understand that spending even more time now with your child may be hard. It may magnify pre-existing problems, and lead to intensified arguments. It may also cause feelings of frustration, irritability, and anger.
Our Online Autism Parent Support Group at Open Doors Therapy is for parents of a teen with high-functioning autism (15+ years old) or a young adult with Asperger’s type profile. In our online therapy group, we will provide a supportive and non-judgmental environment. There you can explore your feelings and learn new communication strategies to help keep the peace in your home.
Dr Tasha Oswald, a licensed psychologist in California, is an autism expert. She has created a highly specialized autism program and will lead the group online. The group is available to parents who reside in California. In our telemental health sessions, you will be given tools to support positive interactions with your child. You will also learn healthy communication strategies to use with your child with autism.
If you are feeling burnt out or are needing support, we can help. We understand that emotions may be running high in your home, or worrying about Coronavirus (COVID-19) is taking a toll on your family. So reach out today and learn how we can help you. Typically, the fee is $150 per session. However, we are instead accepting donations of any amount to support families during this pandemic.
Online Therapy Groups Offered at Open Doors Therapy
Open Doors Therapy is committed to respecting the guidelines issued by our state and federal government regarding sheltering in place. Therefore, we are currently offering our social skills groups online. We want to provide our clients with the same level of care and support they have grown accustomed to while staying healthy in our homes.
Our Online Therapy Groups Include:
The Gifted Teen with Autism and Caregiver Group:
The Gifted Teen with Autism and Caregiver Group provides a supportive environment where you and your teen can come and meet with other people who share similar challenges. We want both the teen and their caregivers to have their own space to express their thoughts, concerns, and feelings.
College Group:
Our College Group includes high-functioning students with autistic traits who attend a college or a university in the South Bay Area. Our College Group discusses the unique challenges neurodiverse students may face in school.
Young Adults Group:
Our Young Adults Group provides you with a safe place to learn what it means to be a millennial with autistic traits. Joining this group will improve your social skills, lessen anxiety, and improve self-advocacy.
Working Professionals Group:
During the Working Professional’s Group, we talk about common struggles neurodiverse professionals may have. We discuss managing miscommunications, non-verbal communication, listening skills, perspective-talking, empathizing, and unwritten social rules.
If you’re unsure which group would be a good fit for you, please contact our autism therapy clinic.
Join an Autism Social Skills Group for Neurodiverse Adults in Palo Alto, CA:
We understand that the COVID-19 health crisis is a scary and challenging time for our country, especially if you’re living with ASD. Open Doors Therapy is here to support you or your loved one. To begin online group therapy in California, please follow these three steps:
- Schedule a free 30-minute consultation appointment. During this video call, we will help you to find a group that will best meet your unique needs during COVID-19.
- Like me on Facebook. This will help you stay up-to-date on Open Doors Therapy and our autism therapy services.
- Sign up to receive my newsletter. This contains useful information regarding living with an Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Other Services for the Neurodiverse at Open Doors Therapy:
Our South Bay Area autism therapy clinic serves high-functioning adults and teens with autism. This includes high functioning individuals who identify as having Aspergers, high functioning autism, undiagnosed autism traits, etc. and their families.
Our counseling clinic offers a variety of autism counseling services including individual counseling for autistic teens and adults, parent counseling, and group therapy. Also, our we are offering several different social skills groups online for neurodiverse working professionals, college students with autistic traits, gifted youth & caregivers, autistic adults, women who identify as neurodiverse, a summer social skills college transition training program for youth transitioning to college, teens & caregivers, a mothers group, and an online parent support group. Please call or email our South Bay Area counseling office for more information on how we can best serve you.
About the Author:
Dr. Tasha Oswald is a trained developmental and clinical psychologist. And, she is the founder and director of Open Doors Therapy, a private practice specializing in autism therapy services in the South Bay Area, near San Francisco, CA. Dr. Oswald specializes in helping neurodiverse teens and adults and facilitating social skills groups.
