Autism and Anxiety: What’s Really Driving the Behavior?

Many autistic children struggle with anxiety, but it doesn’t always look the way parents expect.

Sometimes anxiety looks like constant worrying. Sometimes it looks like school refusal, perfectionism, meltdowns, rigidity, reassurance seeking, avoidance, or a child who needs to know exactly what’s going to happen next.

In this episode of Beneath the Behavior, Dr. Mark Bowers explores the complex relationship between autism and anxiety and helps parents understand why so many autistic children experience intense stress around uncertainty, change, social situations, and daily demands.

We discuss:

 • Why anxiety is so common in autistic children
 • The connection between autism, uncertainty, and the need for predictability
 • School anxiety and school refusal
 • Social anxiety and friendship challenges
 • Perfectionism and fear of making mistakes
 • Reassurance seeking and constant questioning
 • When anxiety looks like behavior problems
 • Why meltdowns can be driven by fear and overwhelm
 • The difference between support and avoidance
 • Therapy considerations for autistic children with anxiety
 • What meaningful progress actually looks like

If you've ever wondered whether your child's behavior is really anxiety underneath, this episode will help you understand what may be happening beneath the surface and how to support your child with greater clarity and compassion.