Anxiety
• Talk about it. – Problems never get addressed unless they are brought out in to the open and discussed. It can be difficult to discuss anxiety issues, but often simply by acknowledging them they can seem easier to deal with, and be put in to some kind of perspective.
• Work around understanding feelings – understanding feelings is not easy for people with autism. But a lot of the work when it comes to anxiety issues needs to be around the feelings those anxieties can provoke, and also the feelings that might lead up to them. There are many different ways to do this and there is not the space to discuss them here, but one option is the Scripts, Signs and Sketches mentioned above.
• The person with autism can take their own food – when going round to somebody else’s house it might be worth the person with autism taking their own food. This might seem rude at first, but if it is explained to the host that having to eat different meals at different times can create anxiety for the autistic individual, it should be fine. It means they don’t have to worry about having to eat something they don’t like, and can also reduce their stress meaning that they can enjoy their visit.
• Don’t feel obliged to eat out – people eat out because they enjoy it, not because it`s a necessity. If somebody doesn’t enjoy eating out and finds it anxiety inducing then there is no need for them to do so. They might wish to, if they are going on a date or wish to go out with their friends, but it`s rarely essential.
• Don’t put pressure on person to eat larger portions, or different foods – this tip is more for the families of people who have autism – of course if somebody only eats unhealthy food it`s important that they find a way to broaden their diet, but putting pressure on them will only increase their stress levels. Likewise, if somebody is autistic, and wants to change the way they eat, they won’t do so by making themselves feel even more stressed and anxious.
• Try not to show anxiety in front of a child – if parents are concerned about a child who has food issues then they should try their best not to transmit their anxiety to their child. They may try to implement some of the tips themselves, or if the child is older, they might explain what the issue is in a simple and calm way, but again, making the child overly anxious won’t help anything.
Gut problems
• Seek medical advice – obviously this only applies if the person in question has gut issues. This could be something like coeliac disease or a wheat allergy/intolerance. And it is important to know exactly what kind of issues the person has before anything is done. There is no point self- diagnosing.
• Unable to articulate – the person with autism may be unable to articulate negative effects that some foods have on them, so look out for things such as a swollen or painful stomach, acid indigestion, or acid reflux, nausea, and headaches. The autistic individual may appear to be a fussy eater, but it may be that the food is in fact making them ill. If the autistic person isn`t able to communicate what they are feeling, then this may come out in other ways such as being picky with food, food refusal or even meltdowns. So seeking medical advice could provide the answers to a lot of questions.
Like everything related to autism, issues around food can come in many forms. But there are also many different solutions. Just because something is a problem doesn’t mean it is insurmountable. Somebody with autism might never be able to have a so-called `normal` diet, either due to medical issues or because they can`t handle the sensory impact of some foods. But this doesn’t have to be a problem. Certain diets, for example somebody who will only eat chocolate are not sustainable, but in most cases there are ways around whatever problems may arise. They might not be instantaneous or easy, but eventually the solutions may be effective.
*Scripts, Signs & Sketches are techniques created by my Mum to help me to cope with my meltdowns, social and communication skills, independence, and dealing with change, as well as managing routines.
You can read about them in my books:
http://www.jkp.com/uk/create-a-reward-plan-for-your-child-with-asperger-syndrome.html
http://www.jkp.com/uk/helping-children-with-autism-spectrum-conditions-through-everyday-transitions.html