Understanding and Exploring Fears in Autistic Individuals
- 4 hours ago
- 4 min read
By Nelson Tang
Fear is something that everyone has gone through at least once in their lifetimes and is one of the universal human emotions. It is only natural for an individual to feel fear as there have been many who possess no fear. There is an evolutionary drive behind this emotion as it has helped mankind progress and evolve over time. Fear is essential as it promotes survival that leads to the fight or flight response that one’s body automatically triggers. When one enters this involuntary state of being, it is where important decisions are made that can determine the outcome for better or worse. Furthermore, these provide crucial learning opportunities where one learns to better adapt and survive. In other words, fear is a survival mechanism that has sharpened humanity's instincts and decision making abilities allowing them to overcome dangers whether it be physical, environmental or emotional factors. Without it, we as a society would not have progressed the way we did and will continue to need to in order to move forward in navigating whatever obstacles that will present themselves to us in life.
Although fear is a universal feeling that we all understand, it is a unique experience that varies from person to person. Since we are all our own individuals with different life experiences, it would also mean our fears and how we handle them will also differ. Even if people share the same kinds of fear, the way they respond to them may not be the same. Some individuals may get over their fears, while others spend their lifetime trying to overcome them. It will either make or break them when it comes to situations they encounter. This goes back to the fact that everyone is different from each other with many factors coming into play depending on the surroundings that one grows up in. Moreover, this can vary depending on the environment to the emotional settings,etc.
In this article, it will be taking a look at the links between autism and fears or phobias. Just like everyone, individuals living with autism go through the feelings of fear as well. However, it does not mean that they express less or more fear overall. Rather the differences between how neurotypicals may experience fear and those with autism are the triggers, intensity or expression of it may be different. Since autism is a spectrum, no two experiences with fear are the same and can vary. Furthermore, this article will delve into the experiences of fear in autistic individuals and the various factors that contribute to the difference whether it be emotional or biological.
One of the key differences between a neurotypical individual and an autistic individual is how they see in navigate the world around them. The sensory process plays a role as those with autism may have a high sensitivity when it comes to their senses such as sight or sound. For example loud noises or bright lights may not affect a neurotypical person, but it may be an overwhelming situation for a person with autism. In other words, the reactions towards fear can be much more intense for neurodivergents compared to neurotypicals. Another factor to consider is that data shows that anxiety contributes to this as it is a common symptom associated with autism. Furthermore, studies have shown that up to 40% of autistic youth experience signs of clinical anxiety.
What are some ways to mitigate and help those with autism manage or overcome their fears and anxiety. There has been a case study in an article titled “Reducing Specific Phobia/Fear in Young People with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) through a Virtual Reality Environment Intervention” where this is offered as a possible solution. In this study, it involved 9 children of various ages on the autism spectrum each with a specific fear whether it was crowded bus or pigeons. The results of this study was proven to be highly successful as 8 out of 9 participants were able to confront their phobias with 4 of those 8 even being able to completely overcome them. All of this involved a combination of cognitive behavioral and a gradual exposure to virtual reality environments simulated specifically for each child. Monitoring continued for the months following to see if the effects were lasting.
In conclusion, managing and overcoming fear is a different unique experience for everyone as we are our own individuals with the environments that we grow up in creating huge impacts. The human mind is very complex especially when it comes to the neurodivergent community as it is still something that requires further research and data. It all has to begin with understanding, compassion, and learning how one can help in the matter. Studies like the one mentioned above aid in this process of helping those with autism navigate through their anxieties or fears and the world around them. Through this, it assists in their overall development and improvement of quality of life.
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