With the state of the world as it is right now, it can be hard for even the most well-adjusted child to cope with isolation and social distancing. For a child with autism, it can be out right devastating. Here are some ways to recognize signs of stress that can come from a disaster or traumatic event.
If your child is young or non-verbal they may not have the ability to express themselves in a way that you will understand clearly. If your child is acting insecure or is suddenly very stressed out and irritated, these can be signs of something gone wrong. Here are some questions you should ask yourself.
- Is your young child acting irritated?
- Have you noticed your child cry excessively for reasons unknown to you?
- Has your child been acting out?
- Does your child have sleeping?
- Does he or she lack emotions?
- Have you noticed any regressive behavior?
If your child on the spectrum is slightly older and more verbal they may have a better understanding of what is going on around them and how to handle themselves in a crisis situation.
Although they may seem to be coping, they can still experience post traumatic stress. Parents should ask themselves the following questions about their older child’s behavior:
- Is your older child suddenly pre-occupied with an event, traumatic experience or disaster?
- Has your older started to withdrawal from activities with friends or family ?
- Has your son or daughter started to experience trouble sleeping?
- Have they have trouble concentrating?
If you can answer “Yes” to any of the questions above then here are some tips to help your child get a better handle of their stress levels:
- Calmly, but clearly explain to your child that although this situation is scary, it’s also only temporary. Try to make them feel comfortable by finding a happy balance between their old routine and this “new normal”.
- Show compassion. Give your child with autism extra hugs and more attention… anything they like that will give them a sense of love, safety and comfort.
- Let them know you are there for them. Be there shoulder to cry on, be available to talk to them and comfort them.
- Initiate conversation about your situation if they don’t come to you first, and listen to what they have to say.
- Take their fears, concerns, gestures and expressions seriously and let them know it is OK for them to have these feelings and concerns.
- Be mindful of your reactions to their fears. Stay calm and be sure not to say anything that would cause more stress.
- Limit their exposure to the media on the subject of COVID-19.
- If your child is older and has access to social media, the news or radio then do what you can to talk to them about what is happening, how it is effecting others, and how they can keep themselves safe.
If you feel you have tried everything and it’s still not working, it is always a good idea to seek some professional help from a doctor, councilor or specialist.