Anxiety in our autistic kids is the biggest comorbidity of autism. Anxiety means fearful. According to the ADAA( Anxiety and Depression Association of America), up to 40% of autistic people have anxiety. https://adaa.org/learn-from-us/from-the-experts/blog-posts/consumer/anxiety-autism-spectrum-disorder  

Anxiety in our autistic kids manifests itself in different forms. OCD(obsessive-compulsive disorder), Tourette’s syndrome, panic attacks, facial tics, selective mutism, hitting, running away, social withdrawal, self-injurious behavior, stimming, and resistance to change are some of the features of anxiety in our autistic kids.

Overcoming anxiety in our autistic kids is paramount in forging a path for them as an independent and productive adult. The sooner we start treatment for anxiety in our autistic kids, generally the better the outcome.

I recently went to see my son, Luke, in Florida, who is a young adult now. As some of you may know, Luke was labeled at one point as being severely autistic, with talks of being placed in an institution.

Luke had high anxiety, and showed his anxiety in many ways. He had OCD, lining his toy trains in a precise row, and a need for sameness; if we altered his routine his tantrums would be swift and torturous to endure. He was terrified of the hand dryer in the public restroom; I used to have to drag him into the restroom whenever we went anywhere. He also became anxious whenever he saw a balloon, and we were never able to watch fireworks because of his anxiety. If we were out at a restaurant and anyone dared to sing happy birthday he would cover his ears and hum loudly to himself while rocking back and forth, drawing unwanted attention to our table. He paced the floors, flapping his hands as he ran into the walls, then turned around and ran into the opposite wall.

Life became so tough in the South household that my husband(now ex-husband) turned tail and fled, leaving us to fend for ourselves.

After countless traditional doctors and AMA(American Medical Association)-approved treatments with no improvements, I finally took Luke to a holistic doctor. This doctor told me that anxiety in our autistic kids is a lot of times a symptom of heavy metals toxicity, especially lead and mercury. https://chriskresser.com/could-mercury-toxicity-be-causing-your-symptoms/

A spect scan showed that Luke’s brain was full of heavy metals, and that he was functioning at an IQ of 79(100 is average). He started Luke on DMSA, which is a very powerful chelator. Note: DMSA must be used only by a qualified doctor, with blood levels closely monitored.

After several rounds of DMSA, Luke’s life finally turned around. He lost the autism label, having it replaced with expressive language disorder. His IQ was scored at 119. But best of all, the anxiety that had plagued him all those years was gone. He lost the OCD rituals, the sound sensitivities and the stimming. He was able to stay calm, even when events outside of his control escalated.

I took Luke to a restaurant on the beach when I last visited him. The table next to us was laden with festive balloons and a large, hearty group. Suddenly, a balloon popped as the server brought out a cake, and the group burst out in a loud rendition of happy birthday.

Luke glanced over at the group and smiled, then turned and popped a French fry in his mouth.

My eyes brimmed with tears as I recalled the fearful Luke of his youth, and how far he had come. “Hey, Luke, remember how scared you used to be of balloons and people singing?”

Luke nodded, with a faraway look in his eyes, as if empathizing with the troubled child of his youth.

Luke now lives independently in his own apartment, and has been employed with the same job for the past three years. But most of all, he has peace of mind, like a tropical sunset over a tranquil sea.

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scarlett

Scarlett South is a registered nurse, an autism specialist and the author of Autistic or Toxic? How I Unlocked the Mystery of My Son's "Autism." But her proudest achievement is her adult son, whom was once considered severely autistic, with talks of being placed in an institution, and whom is now an independent and productive member of society! Scarlett is based in Florida.

Latest posts by scarlett (see all)

• Calling All Employers - September 5, 2021
• Can Heavy Metals Cause Autism? - August 29, 2021
• Transitioning Towards Living Independently as an Autistic Adult - July 18, 2021