Anxiety is a normal response to everyday situations that make us feel insecure, afraid, or uncertain. It becomes a problem when this response is disproportionate to the stressor, when there is no stressor at all, or when it lasts for a very long time. It is very common in people with autism spectrum disorder (it is estimated that around 40% of people with ASD experience some form of anxiety disorder).

Anxiety can negatively impact and worsen the clinical characteristics of ASD (social interaction and communication, restricted interests, repetitive behavior, sensory regulation).

Some symptoms related to anxiety are:

• Physical symptoms: palpitations, tremors, difficulty breathing, abdominal pain, headaches, etc.
• Behavioral symptoms: avoidance behaviors on certain occasions, increased repetitive behaviors, increased irritability, episodes of psychomotor agitation and/or aggressive responses.