Is It Anxiety or a Bad Situation?
When being faced with genuinely awful situations, it can be hard to tell if what you’re struggling with is anxiety or just your reaction to the terrible situation itself.
Free resources on
Anxiety
for Autistics
- Does your brain treat everyday problems like emergencies — an unanswered text, a slightly ambiguous email from your boss, a plan that changed last minute — setting off alarms that won’t turn off even after you’ve handled it?
- Do you find yourself lying awake replaying a conversation from earlier that day — or years ago — picking apart what you said and what they meant by a comment or that look they gave you?
- Do you put off emails or appointments for way too long, even things you want to take care of, knowing rationally that it will be fine, but unable to convince your nervous system of that?
If you recognized yourself in any of these, you don’t have to keep figuring it out alone.
I’ve walked this road myself, and that’s why I’ve put together resources, tools, and answers to support you in making it better.
Free downloads
Here are most popular free downloads
to help with those questions:
Free workshop on autistic anxiety
Most recent articles on anxiety
Breaking Free From Anxiety’s Biggest Lies
Anxiety can be insidious. Here are some of its biggest lies, and why it’s lying to you, and what you can do to break free.
When WFH Backfired, and Increased My Anxiety
This is a story that took place a few years before I figured out I’m Autistic. My supposed dream come true of working from home turned out to be a recipe for high anxiety.
6 Things that Increase Anxiety for Autistics
Here are 6 common things that tend to increase anxiety for Autistics, and the biggest reason why they they have that effect: it may not be what you think. Because they’re not bad things.
Is It Anxiety Or Sensory Stuff?
Anxiety and sensory stuff can be difficult to pick apart, so I’d like to talk a bit about them and how they can intersect.
This Isn’t The End Of The Story, Just The Middle
When going through a tough time, it’s easy to feel like it’s the end of everything, but this isn’t the end of your story.
My Anti-Anxiety Techniques Actually Work (And Saved My Vacation)
My recent vacation nearly ended before it started because of a last-minute disaster, but I got through it. Here’s what happened, and how I kept myself going.
How People Pleasing Prevents Positive Relationships
Autistic people-pleasing includes plenty of downsides, but have you thought of the positives that it prevents?
When The Thing You Can’t Do Is The Thing You Must Do
Is there something you want to do, but part of you says you can’t? I’d like to talk about that.
This Assumption Leads to Autistic Anxiety
A response to a conversation on social media reminded me of a way of thinking that I’d like to discuss.
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Free videos on working with anxiety
Heather’s YouTube playlist on working with anxiety:
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When You Hate Being Perceived
Why Your Brain Freezes When Anxiety Hits #actuallyautistic #autisticburnout #anxietyrelief #anxiety
Anxiety Reduction for Neurodivergent Humans
Anxiety reduction course invite for Autistics and AuDHDers #actuallyautistic
This Assumption Leads to Autistic Anxiety
I Said No: How I Dealt with Anxiety Waiting for a Backlash
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Free videos on real life autistic anxiety reduction examples
Heather’s YouTube playlist on anxiety reduction in real life:
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I Said No: How I Dealt with Anxiety Waiting for a Backlash
Dealing with Anxiety Around My Dr's Appointment
How to Push Back Against Painful Thinking
My Anti-Anxiety Techniques Actually Work (And Saved My Vacation)
Trauma healing in action: how I spoke up for myself at the botanical gardens
Self-Care Backfired – And Nearly Derailed All My Autistic Unmasking Progress
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Ready to go deeper?
If you’d like more in-depth, structured, or personalized help with managing your anxiety—and are open to paid resources—here are my top three options:
More free resources by topic
Here are more common topics of interest in the later identified Autistic Journey: