Autism and Co-occurring Anxiety focuses on assessment and care for autistic children, adolescents, and adults who experience generalized, social, or specific anxiety—often masked by sensory sensitivities, rigidity, or communication differences. This page translates evidence into practice: adapting CBT with visual supports and graduated exposure, aligning psychopharmacology with sleep and GI needs, and building school/work accommodations that target function, not just symptoms. If you’re comparing events like an autism anxiety conference, you’ll find concrete strategies for distinguishing uncertainty intolerance from classic worry cycles, using strengths-based goal setting, and embedding caregiver training. Because anxiety frequently overlaps with OCD traits and selective mutism, we cross-link to Anxiety Disorders so teams can tune protocols without losing neurodiversity-informed principles.

Implementation thrives on co-design. Plans begin with sensory mapping, predictable routines, and communication supports, then layer exposure hierarchies that respect processing time and predictability needs. Medication choices—SSRIs, alpha-2 agonists, or off-label options—are sequenced carefully, with slow titration and shared metrics for benefit and tolerability. Sleep and circadian tuning reduce daytime reactivity; school or workplace adjustments (quiet zones, flexible timing, clear task breakdown) sustain gains. Family coaching focuses on supportive responses that avoid accommodation traps, while peer and digital tools extend practice between sessions. Telehealth and home-based exposure expand access for individuals who find travel or new settings overwhelming.