LUNA (Learning to Understand and Navigate Anxiety)

  1. Baylor College of Medicine
  2. Research
  3. Faculty Labs
  4. LUNA (Learning to Understand and Navigate Anxiety)
  5. Teen Modules
  6. Module 9: When Anxiety Overlaps with Autism
  7. Congratulations!

Congratulations! | LUNA Teen Module 9

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Congratulations! You have completed the ninth module of LUNA

Content

This module covered some difficult topics and you made it through to the end- great job! This week, we talked about how to create or adjust a plan of action for anxieties that are closely related to traits of autism. The examples we used were sensory sensitivities and difficulties with changes in routine. Here are some points to take away: 

  1. Sometimes, certain behaviors can come from your anxiety AND also be related to traits of autism.
  2. When anxieties related to autism start to cause problems for you and your family, or stop you from doing things you would like to do, it can be helpful to make a plan of action to work on these fears.
  3. For these types of fears and worries, it's important to:
    • Carefully choose a goal that you want to achieve and that you feel comfortable with. Your goal should also take your autistic traits into account.
    • Make plans that are more gradual with many small exposure activities.
    • Pay attention to flexible tools you can use to help you reach your goal and face your fear.
  4. Feel free to get creative when you are making more gradual plans! Brainstorm the ways you can use audio clips, pictures, or videos.

Over the next week, make sure you remember to: 

  1. Keep practicing the activities in your plans of action.
  2. If you and your parent think you need a new plan of action for anxiety related to autism, make a new one using the My Plan of Action Worksheet.

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