Anxiety and Autism - The Connection, Challenges & My Experiences

Hi! I'm Orion Kelly and I'm Autistic. On this video we explore the connection between #autism and diagnosed forms of #anxiety, including OCD, social anxiety disorder and agoraphobia. Plus, I share my personal lived experiences as an #actuallyautistic person with diagnosed forms of anxiety. #orionkelly #autism #autisticadult #whatautismfeelslike #asd

⏱ Index:
00:00 - Autism & anxiety
02:44 - The Autistic connection with anxiety
04:45 - Social anxiety disorder
11:16 - Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)
14:35 - Agoraphobia
18:28 - Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

🙏 Thanks so much for watching, rating, commenting, sharing and subscribing, I really appreciate it! You're helping me raise the level of understanding and acceptance of the Autistic community. You can show your support for my channel by doing any of these things:

1️⃣ SUBSCRIBE to my channel.
2️⃣ LIKE / COMMENT / SHARE my videos.
3️⃣ SEND me a Super Thanks

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

🔵 CHANNEL LINKS 🔵

🔵 CONNECT 🔵
TikTok: @orionkelly_australia

🎧 My Friend Autism' PODCAST 🎧

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ABOUT ORION:
Orion Kelly is an #ActuallyAutistic vlogger (YouTuber), podcaster, radio host, actor, keynote speaker and Autistic advocate based in Australia. Orion is all about helping you increase your understanding, acceptance and appreciation of Autistic people.

#AutisticVoices #ActuallyAutistic #Autistic #Autism #OrionKelly #ThatAutisticGuy #ASD

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

⛔️*Disclaimer: The videos contained on this channel are for general education and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute professional advice. For professional advice and training seek assistance from a qualified provider. All views are my own and do not represent those of my employers or sponsors. Some images used are stock images.*⛔️

Related: autism, autism diagnosis, Orion Kelly, orionkelly, thatautisticguy, tiktok videos, autistic, autism in adults, autism in women, autism in men, autism spectrum condition, asd, autism spectrum disorder, aspergers, aspergers syndrome, autism in boys, autism in girls, dsm, dsm5, autistic adults, autistic kids, autism mom, autism parent, autism family, autism speaks, autism awareness, autism acceptance, autism at work, am I autistic, adult autism test, autism disclosure, autism therapy, autism prevention, autism meltdown, autistic burnout, autistic behavior, autism symptoms, autism traits, autistic signs, what autism feels like, love on the spectrum, stimming, echolalia, anxiety

[VinnieRattolle]

I laughed really hard at your anecdote about evading the neighbors. Jeez, I relate to that, which is so not funny that it's funny!

[TheCassierra]

I can relate to avoiding neighbors. If I do run into anyone unexpectedly, I freeze up and stumble over my words. I have ASD and SAD. All so relatable.

[Caroline-fbsz]

LOVE your description of generalized anxiety disorder! I am about to have to go on stress leave from work for a bit because my anxiety has gotten so bad and I said the exact same thing to them - my body reacts like I am under attack when I am facing what are probably normal amounts of stress and demands to other people. It's made me physically sick and then I get anxious about feeling sick, just a vicious cycle! I am going to use how you describe it to talk to a therapist about it, but it's good to know I'm not alone.

[Alan-yggv]

I almost clicked off this video because the intro was a little longer than my anxious self could cope with. It I’m glad I stuck with it. I can totally resonate with the way you described GAD. A really helpful video and has calmed me down somewhat already. Thank you.

[jennifergauthier]

Well said. Your vulnerability is beautiful. And I can identify with so much of which you spoke. 😀

[Catlady-tmoi]

Spot on! I feel so relieved I’m not the only one! Diagnosed with anxiety at age 33, autism at 43. “Previewing” and researching every place I go- even if I have been there before, is the #1 way I manage. Then run through every single possible scenario from “I have to say hello” to “aliens are real and are eating my husband” with responses for each one. Happy to say that after a while, there are a limited number of responses so the anxiety is finally starting to be manageable. (FYI- “hello” in varying tones of voice is a good response to majority of situations.)

[outpostcheerfuloyster]

"Why should you care what other people think? Just be yourself!"
"I care because any interaction with a stranger has the potential to escalate to violence if they find me to be a threat to their fragile model of society."

[harmonymoxham]

thankyou for your videos. I am a 26 year old who only just got diagnosed with autism a month or so ago. I already suspected I had it but having an official diagnosis has helped. Your videos help me realise I am not alone, and that I'm not a bad person for my autistic symptoms. I'm not trying to say there is anything wrong with being autistic or expressing autistic symptoms, but I have been really badly teased for any stimming behaviour or social awkwardness I express for years. I'm lucky enough to have other friends who are diagnosed who I can talk to, and my housemate has introduced me to other autistic people. Having a community has really helped me.
When I was younger, I had severe depression and anxiety. I ended up withdrawing a lot and not wanting to socialise with other people. I tried going to therapy for years, but it didn't help in the way I needed it to. I was always told to just go out and spend time with people in settings I feel safe in. In some ways that has helped, but in other ways it hasn't. I can still feel anxious talking to new people but its been getting better. Now that I am officially diagnosed I can just tell people that I am a little awkward around new people, and might need a little time to warm up to them. being open has helped and I am lucky that most people in my life are understanding. One of my struggles at the moment is having 3 housemates. One of them can be really extroverted and always wants to chat. He is nice and I really like him, but he always wants to chat when I am just about to leave the house to do something, or when I am just getting home and dont have the energy to talk. I don't know how to tell him I like him as a person and like talking to him, but I need space sometimes. Its not personal but sometimes I just physically dont have the energy to talk to anyone, especially really chatty extroverted social people. If anyone could help me find a way to tell him how to tell him I like him but dont feel like talking sometimes without being rude that would be good.

[marthaharkness]

This is really a good video for me. All of my life I have heightened anxiety over many basic things in my life. The worry and stress brought on is almost unbearable. When I look at others, they appear so calm. I really worry about getting lost when going to a new place, getting up in time for work, upsetting people, making the wrong decision, and any other ordinary experiences or tasks that I need to do on a daily basis. This really explains me and I appreciate it that you break it down.

[Cnsalmoni]

I live in an ( unintentionally) autistic friendly community. The planned layouts include cinder block walls all around the yards. It was done to stop the javelinas from destroying the plants and patios, but it’s great for keeping the neighbors under control too!😊

[lizardme]

I can relate completely. I just did this tonight while leaving the house hoping the neighbor wouldnt say hello.

[mike-williams]

I certainly have anxiety issues, but they're directed towards specific situations rather than a general issue. There is something of what is called hypervigilance in these situations, and that is generally tied to bullying that has occurred. When you have gone through years of being physically and psychologically attacked then you're very very wary.

The connection between anxiety and masking, the fear of having public burnout, of being shamed for your artist traits feels like a perfect storm of issues.

[anttituiskuinenglish]

Omg, thank you for explaining the generalized anxiety(among the other kinds); I'm gonna have to remember to link back to that timestamp when I start getting back out into the world. I do a terrible job at explaining certain things and you did it so well. Thanks!

[robertwarbrick]

Hi, Orion. I found your channel through Mom on the Spectrum. I have both social and generalized anxiety. I recently was diagnosed with ASD. I think that the social anxiety stems from executive function and generalized anxiety develops as a result of chronic social anxiety, similar to CPTSD. I feel the difference between ASD related anxiety and anxiety in a neurotypical person is the executive funtion aspect of sensory processing, in compination with spoon theory of energy utilization. Less energy to utilize post scripting/masking/processing. Great vids, btw!

[darragho]

Thank you so much, this video helped me so much today. I've been having a borderline anxiety breakdown today and watching this has really helped me

[scottstarkman]

Hi, Orion. Thank you for the wonderful and helpful video. I was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at age 53, and my diagnosed co-morbid conditions are Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). You did a great job of explaining what anxiety is like to the person him- or herself. Even though I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and probably have had it for much or most of my life, sometimes it's hard for me to pinpoint and describe, even to myself, what it actually is like, what it really means, and how it presents itself in my day-to-day life and overall being. Maybe because of having lived with it, for all this time, it just seems to be a part of you, and yet seems to be more elusive in nature, at least to me, even though it's very much there and I have been diagnosed with it. I think it's the same for ASD. Many of the traits and presentations of ASD just seem to be a part of you, for all your life, making life challenging and a struggle in certain very real ways, and why getting a late Autism diagnosis is such a revelation and validation of these struggles and challenges that never had a name or a description, yet were something that we were very often distressed by but which we simply lived with and learned to live with, as it was (and is) just a part of us.

[OrandaASMR]

Comprehensive video! I’m obsessed about the lighting and background 🙌

[brappineau]

You're so well spoken. I was feeling helpless but seeing this gave me hope!

[neurodivergentNat]

Yes 🙌 I have a diagnosis of GAD (anxiety)… anxiety is one of the most highly co-occurring (preferred over co-morbidly) condition of autism!! Autism is sooo complex. I don’t think I’ve met an autistic adult that doesn’t have some sort of co-occurring condition?! 💙

[michaelk]

Very insightful and very relatable. Thanks Orion.