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Advice
Coping with unexpected change Coronavirus has caused huge change and uncertainty, which we were unable to prepare for. Our Helpline Adviser Dani offers some guidance on how to create structure when a person isn’t fully able to prepare for change, and outlines ways of managing anxiety during these times Many autistic people find that coping with change can cause a lot of stress and anxiety. Much of the advice people receive around this involves doing advance preparation. This can be really helpful, but is not always possible. So, what can you do when a change is unexpected?
Find the similarities
When unexpected change happens, it is
easy to feel like everything is different and overwhelmingly uncertain. A good activity if this is how you are feeling can be to make a list of the key points that are not changing in your life. This could be family members, the people you can talk to, or elements of your daily routine that can stay the same. You could even think about your favourite things, which may not have changed. For example, TV shows or films you enjoy watching, games you like to play, or music to which you enjoy listening.
Adding perspective
Once the change has happened, it can be helpful to identify what coping strategies can be used to manage anxiety. You can consider whether you have been in a similar situation before – not necessarily the same
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