Mental Health
By The Autistic Advocate
Mental Health
By The Autistic Advocate
The Awesome Autistic Guide to Being Proud: Feeling Good About Who You Are
Tanya Masterman and Yenn Purkis
£14.99Welcome to the autistic community! We're very glad you're here! Sometimes it can be difficult to feel proud of who you are. Maybe you feel different from other people or struggle to fit in - there is no need to worry! Yenn, Tanya and a tiny meerkat called Min are here to help you discover how to feel proud to be you. From learning about the autistic community, to finding like-minded friends and connecting with others, this book will give you everything you need to ask the question 'what does it mean to be me?' Learn alongside Min how the special things that make you YOU can also help find your own community. Discover your own strengths, boost your confidence, and learn how to start your journey as an awesome autistic person with the community by your side
The Awesome Autistic Guide to Feelings and Emotions: Finding Your Comfort Zone
Yenn Purkis and Tanya Masterman
£14.99
The Awesome Autistic Guide to Other Humans: Relationships with Friends and Family
Tanya Masterman and Yenn Purkis
£14.99
The Autistic Survival Guide to Therapy
Steph Jones
£16.99"This is the book that would've saved me nine different therapists, decades of self-analysis, thousands of pounds, twelve different doctors and untold amounts of pain, frustration and trauma - in spending a lifetime looking for the right answers in the wrong places I've become an accidental expert." In this candid, witty and insightful exploration into therapy, Steph Jones uses her professional and lived experiences as a late diagnosed autistic woman and therapist, as well as consulting therapists from across the world and tapping into the autistic community, to create the ultimate autistic survival guide to therapy. Steph confronts the statistics, inadequate practices and ableist therapists head on and poses the questions of how we can make therapy neurodivergence-affirming and how to create safe spaces for autistic individuals. With strategic and practical advice to help recognise the 'red flags' of a dodgy therapist and provide a clear roadmap to finding your confidence and setting the appropriate boundaries with a new therapist, Steph has every question answered.
The #ActuallyAutistic Guide to Building Independence: A Handbook for Teens, Young Adults, and Those Who Care About Them
Jenna Gensic and Jennifer Brunton
£15.99
Autism in Adults
Luke Beardon
£10.99 £10.44If you've recently been diagnosed with ASD, or think you might be, or you are close to someone with ASD, one of the things you will like most about this book is the way in which it challenges the idea of autism as a 'disorder' or 'impairment'. Instead, Dr Luke Beardon will help you to reframe what you feel, and challenge what you know, about being on the spectrum. He explains how autism impacts on the individual, and what purpose a diagnosis might - or might not - serve. There is a lot of myth-busting, and dismantling of the stereotypes and clichés around ASD and areas like communication, social interaction and relationships. Practical tips for undiagnosed adults will help you navigate things like school, work, study, parenthood and even to understand what happens when autistic people break the law. Above all, this book is a celebration of what it means to be autistic - of the passion, honesty, humour, lack of ego, loyalty and trustworthiness that make you, or your loved one, such an amazing person.
Learning From Autistic Teachers: How to Be a Neurodiversity-Inclusive School
£25.99
In this strikingly honest collection, developed from a pioneering new research project, autistic teachers and other autistic school professionals share their stories of the challenges and successes of their careers. Contributors challenge assumptions and stereotypes whilst highlighting the unique strengths autistic staff can bring to schools when their own needs are accommodated. The book explores exclusion and identity, understanding and acceptance, intersectionality and facilitating inclusion. It also celebrates the positives that come with being an autistic teacher, such as relating to neurodivergent pupils and conveying passion and enthusiasm for a subject through intense interests, or demonstrating particular skills in school leadership. It examines how workplace set up can sometimes exclude autistic individuals and lead to skilled teachers and those in other education roles, including visiting professionals, leaving the profession, and sets out the accommodations that can prevent this from happening.
Understanding Autistic Relationships Across the Lifespan: Family, Friends, Lovers and Others
Felicity Sedgewick and Sarah Douglas
£31.99Understanding Autistic Relationship Across the Lifespan is an accessible overview of autistic relationships from the early years through to old age. This much-needed book combines the latest research findings with first-hand accounts to offer insight into the relationships of autistic people and how they differ to those of non-autistic people in a range of ways. Felicity Sedgewick and Sarah Douglas delve into life's stages and their challenges, revealing how navigating relationships can lead to misunderstandings, rejection, and trauma – but also to genuine connection, support, and joy. Illustrated throughout with extracts from interviews, and with extended narratives from Sarah, it explores key topics including relationships in the early years, childhood friendships, teenage friendships and romance, adult romantic and sexual relationships, LGBTQ+ relationships, finding community, family relationships, and issues in the later stages of life. The authors explore a wide range of emotions and life situations, examining the social world of autistic people and the strategies they use to navigate it. Understanding Autistic Relationship Across the Lifespan offers practical recommendations for both autistic and non-autistic people on how to have the healthiest and most satisfying relationships possible. It is essential reading for all those working with autistic people and studying autism, as well as autistic individuals and those close to them.
The Strengths-Based Guide to Supporting Autistic Children: A Positive Psychology Approach to Parenting
Claire O'Neill
£16.99'Being strength-aware has brought many moments of joy to our family life. It is this potential for growth and joy that I now want to share in this book' This flexible, dip-in-dip-out guide will introduce you to the strengths-based approach that is helping autistic children and their families to thrive. By focusing on how to identify, develop and use your child's strengths to support them throughout childhood and into adolescence, this transformative approach is here to show you and your child that their unique character-strengths can empower them and shape their future. Claire O'Neill combines her personal experience as an autistic person and mother to autistic children with her expert knowledge as a professional working with autistic young people to demonstrate the value of a strengths-based approach. With step-by-step instructions on how parents and teachers can incorporate this approach easily into family and school life, Claire also offers a variety of specific tips, tricks and engaging activities to provide ongoing support for parents and teachers alike.
So, I'm Autistic: An Introduction to Autism for Young Adults and Late Teens
Sarah O'brien
£14.99'There isn't a secret manual outlining exactly how to get through your teens and young adulthood as an autistic individual, but this book provides a script for how to do what adulthood will make you do anyway, in a way that is most accessible for you". You've just received an autism diagnosis, so why do you still feel so lost when it comes to what autism actually means for you? Written by autistic advocate Sarah O'Brien, this book gives a much-needed introduction into what autism is and removes the myths, stereotypes and stigma that surround it. Sarah provides insights into what to do after diagnosis and how to approach and navigate the process of informing those in your life, from your family and friends to your teachers or manager at work. Utilising her own experience of feeling lost after diagnosis and navigating all of the 'firsts' of adolescence and young adulthood Sarah provides an honest and friendly voice to guide you through it all. Intelligent and clearly-written, this is the fact-led and information-rich resource that will answer your questions about autism, introduce you to your new community and set you up to thrive as an autistic adult.
A Guide to SEND in the Early Years: Supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities
Kerry Murphy
£18.99This book is designed to give every Early Years practitioner the confidence to support children with special educational needs and disabilities. It covers how to define SEND and use inclusive language, how to build and implement inclusion policies and communicate these to parents and carers, how to prepare for transition, and much more. With a whole-team approach and commitment from both practitioners and key persons as well as SENDCos, Kerry Murphy strongly believes we have the potential to create truly inclusive Early Years settings. A Guide to SEND in the Early Years dispels common myths around SEND and offers clear, concise and practical ways to translate theory into practice, overcome challenges and support children with SEND. Written by an experienced Early Years consultant and inclusion specialist, there are tried-and-tested tips, case studies, activities and reflective questions. Focussing on the importance of teamwork and sharing responsibilities, this book is perfect for any Early Years practitioner looking to improve their understanding of SEND and develop their teaching with every child in mind.
Shouting At Leaves
Jennifer Msumba
£15.99 £15.19I have lived through some horrible experiences, all in the name of treatment. But there was one thing I never let those people steal from me, and that was my spirit. Shouting At Leaves takes the reader on the journey of its autistic writer from toddlerhood to adulthood. With humor and grace, this book walks you through the mind and experiences of Jennifer as she navigates the world of family, friendships and school life. It places you with her as she is confined in the mental health system, including the infamous Judge Rotenberg Center, and you will cheer her on as she not only survives but takes on a new life of freedom and joy in the end. She shares stories, tips, and strategies to equip you to be your own champion, and to build around you people who are loyal and true.
Supporting Autistic People Through Pregnancy and Childbirth
Hayley Morgan, Emma Durman, et al.
£26.99This comprehensive and accessible guide is for every birthing and health professional looking to improve their care during pregnancy, birth, and aftercare for autistic women. With a distinct lack of scientifically approached work in this area, this much-needed book takes an intersectional, feminist approach and covers the background of modern birth practices and autism as a diagnosis. With intersectionality as a core feature, the impact of cultural differences, underdiagnoses, stigma, and stereotypes amongst ethnic minorities is also included. It discusses how pain functions in the autistic brain as well as co-occurring conditions such as alexithymia, chronic pain, epilepsy, and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. This multidisciplinary author team includes two well-established autism experts, and an experienced midwife and lecturer who provides invaluable birthing insight, as well as approaches for sensation management during birth, insider knowledge on midwifery protocols, and accessible tools for autistic pregnant people and families to use.
The Routledge International Handbook of Critical Autism Studies
£200.00
This handbook provides an authoritative and up-to-date overview of Critical Autism Studies and explores the different kinds of knowledges and their articulations, similarities, and differences across cultural contexts and key tensions within this subdiscipline. Critical Autism Studies is a developing area occupying an exciting space of development within learning and teaching in higher education. It has a strong trajectory within the autistic academic and advocate community in resistance and response to the persistence of autism retaining an identity as a genetic disorder of the brain. Divided into four parts • Conceptualising autism • Autistic identity • Community and culture • Practice and comprising 24 newly commissioned chapters written by academics and activists, it explores areas of education, Critical Race Theory, domestic violence and abuse, sexuality, biopolitics, health, and social care practices. It will be of interest to all scholars and students of disability studies, sociology, anthropology, cultural studies, education, health, social care, and political science.
Supporting Autistic People with Eating Disorders: A Guide to Adapting Treatment and Supporting Recovery
£21.99
This book explores the link between autism and eating disorders through testimonies from practitioners, service users and carers. Combining research findings, case studies and first-hand accounts, it provides insights into how individuals on the autism spectrum can be supported towards full recovery from an eating disorder. Edited by the lead Clinical Psychologist at the Maudsley Eating Disorder National Service, informed by their team's research, chapters focus on the unique issues arising when autism and eating disorders coexist. The contributors suggest treatment adaptations from a multi-disciplinary perspective, and touch more broadly on the topic of poor mental health outcomes for autistic individuals, and how these might be improved.
Safeguarding Autistic Girls: Strategies for Professionals
Carly Jones
£21.99This honest, to-the-point guide illuminates the experience of young Autistic girls and explores the situations they can easily fall victim to. Powerful case studies show how easily misunderstandings can arise for Autistic girls and help the reader to identify common patterns of abuse. Providing professionals with access to safeguarding strategies that are straightforward to implement and highly effective, this is essential reading for everyone who wants to better understand the challenges faced by this vulnerable group, and ensure they have access to the same opportunities to secure a good education and build safe and happy relationships as their peers.
The Adult Autism Assessment Handbook: A Neurodiversity Affirmative Approach
Dr Maeve Kavanagh, Davida Hartman, et al.
£32.99Adult autism assessment is a new and fast-growing clinical area, for which professionals often feel ill-equipped. Autistic adults are often misdiagnosed which has enormous implications for their mental health. This accessible and comprehensive adult autism assessment handbook covers the most up to date research and best practice around adult autism assessment, centering the person's internal experiences and sense-making in clinical assessment, rather than subjective observation, thus providing the clinician with a truly paradigm shifting Neuro-Affirmative approach to autism assessment. Traditional clinical assessment tools are comprehensively explored and unpacked to enable the clinician to have full confidence in aligning traditional criteria to the Autistic person's subjective experiences. Full of additional resources like language guidelines and an exploration of the common intersections between Autistic experience and the effects of trauma, mental health and more, this book supplies a breadth of knowledge on key areas that affect Autistic adults in everyday life. The mixed team of neurotypical and neurodivergent authors describe lived experience of Autistic adults, a how-to for conducting Neuro-Affirmative assessments and post-assessment support, alongside reflections from practice. This book also has a directory of further resources including downloadable forms that you can use to prepare for your own assessments and a downloadable deep dive into Autistic perception. This guide will also support professionals through every step of the assessment process.
Drama Queen: One Autistic Woman and a Life of Unhelpful Labels
SARA GIBBS
£12.99 £12.34'It has taken me several years of exploration, but I am at a place now where I see autism as neither an affliction nor a superpower. It's just the blueprint for who I am. There is no cure, but that's absolutely fine by me. To cure me of my autism would be to cure me of myself.' During the first thirty years of her life, comedy script writer Sara Gibbs had been labelled a lot of things - a cry baby, a scaredy cat, a spoiled brat, a weirdo, a show off - but more than anything else, she'd been called a Drama Queen. No one understood her behaviour, her meltdowns or her intense emotions. She felt like everyone else knew a social secret that she hadn't been let in on; as if life was a party she hadn't been invited to. Why was everything so damn hard? Little did Sara know that, at the age of thirty, she would be given one more label that would change her life's trajectory forever. That one day, sitting next to her husband in a clinical psychologist's office, she would learn that she had never been a drama queen, or a weirdo, or a cry baby, but she had always been autistic. Drama Queen is both a tour inside one autistic brain and a declaration that a diagnosis on the spectrum, with the right support, accommodations and understanding, doesn't have to be a barrier to life full of love, laughter and success. It is the story of one woman trying to fit into a world that has often tried to reject her and, most importantly, it's about a life of labels, and the joy of ripping them off one by one.
Looking After Your Autistic Self: A Personalised Self-Care Approach to Managing Your Sensory and Emotional Well-Being
Niamh Garvey
£16.99'I no longer try to mask my autism; I now work to support my autism' It is a myth that autistic children grow into 'less autistic' adults. In fact, many autistic adults feel more overwhelmed as they age as the stresses of social demands such as relationships, parenting, or the work environment increase. Niamh Garvey offers tips and tricks designed to reduce sensory and emotional stress and look after your autistic self. From understanding what's happening when the stress response kicks in to using the 'detective habit' to spot your individual strengths and triggers. What's more, every element of this book can be personalised to you. Featuring strategies including 'quick calm plans' for managing triggers and lived-experience advice on understanding emotional regulation, coping with sensory overload and how to look after your senses during intimacy, this guide is here to ensure that you don't just survive adulthood, you thrive in it.
Can't Not Won't: A Story About A Child Who Couldn't Go To School
ELIZA FRICKER
£14.99Eliza Fricker gets it. Her compelling, hard-hitting and irreverently humorous illustrations follow a family through the early days of school avoidance, the process of accessing support and the challenges of coping in the meantime. Can't Not Won't illuminates the absurdity and frustrations that often arise when dealing with health, social and educational systems, and will help any parent in the same boat feel seen. This guide acts as a way to communicate these difficult circumstances with others. Wonderfully relatable, the book also includes written guidance for parents and professionals on what works best when it comes to managing school avoidance.
The Family Experience of PDA: An Illustrated Guide to Pathological Demand Avoidance
ELIZA FRICKER
£14.99Eliza Fricker gets it. Describing her perfectly imperfect experience of raising a PDA child, with societal judgements and internal pressures, it is easy to feel overwhelmed, resentful and alone. This book's comedic illustrations explain these challenging situations and feelings in a way that words simply cannot, will bring some much-needed levity back into PDA parenting. Humorous anecdotes with a compassionate tone remind parents that they are not alone, and they're doing a great job. If children are safe, happy, and you leave the house on time, who cares about some smelly socks? A light-hearted and digestible guide to being a PDA parent covering everything from tolerance levels, relationships and meltdowns to collaboration, flexibility, and self care to dip in and out as your schedule allows to help get to grips with this complex condition. This book is an essential read for any parent with a PDA child, to help better understand your child, build support systems and carve out some essential self care time guilt free.
A Different Way to Learn: Neurodiversity and Self-Directed Education
Naomi Fisher
£16.99'If you are a parent worrying whether self-directed education will work for your child, because you have been told that they have special needs which can only be met in the school system - think again' Neurodivergent children experience and interact with the world differently to many of their peers. Standard educational systems often fail to adapt to their unique strengths and ways of learning. School, and even the act of learning, can become a source of great anxiety and trauma. Self-directed education offers an alternative to traditional schools that can help neurodivergent children develop at their own pace and thrive. Blending theory, practical advice and lived experience, clinical psychologist Naomi Fisher introduces the world of self-directed learning and tailoring the learning environment to your child. This comprehensive overview of self-directed learning is packed with ideas on how to implement it at home and includes interviews from parents of neurodivergent children on how you can make learning differently work for you and your child
From Hurt to Hope: Stories of mental health, mental illness and being autistic
£16.99
Almost 80% of autistic people have a co-occurring mental health condition, and this powerful book puts their voices front and centre, showcasing the human experience beyond the medicalised language and diagnoses. This poignant essay collection shines a light on voices that often go unheard in our society. Covering a range of experiences from multiple ages, genders and backgrounds, discussions include trauma, relationships, masking, healthcare, intersectionality and more. The essays are structured along the topics of hurt (personal experiences and how they shaped the contributor), help (the tools and tips which have helped on their personal journeys), and hope (looking forward to the future). At times touching, humorous, and also enraging, this book offers a frank and honest depiction of the challenges autistic people face and the knock-on effect on their mental health. A challenge to change how our society treats and values one another.
Championing Your Autistic Teen at Secondary School: Getting the Best from Mainstream Settings
Gareth D. Morewood, Debby Elley, et al.
£16.99The transition to secondary school can be a daunting time for parents of autistic youngsters, as well as children themselves. Have you selected the right place? What if staff don't really understand your child's needs? Will they adapt sufficiently - and if not, then what happens? The good news is that you have the ability as a parent or carer to address these concerns, rather than leaving it all to chance. This book will give you the tools to do just that. From choosing the right school for your child (and spotting the tell-tale signs of the wrong one), to preparing both your child and the new school for the transition, to overcoming barriers and building a positive, collaborative and effective relationship between home and school. Tackling key topics from the point of view of both parent and teacher and using examples of great practice, this contains everything you need to know in order to build a more positive secondary school experience for your child.
What Works for Autistic Adults
Luke Beardon
£12.99 £12.34Imagine a world where an autistic person is included, engaged and cherished for how they are; a world which changes for autistic people, rather than changing the person. What Works for Autistic Adults brings the conversation about inclusivity into the forefront and turns it on its head. Instead of modifying the autistic individual and making exceptions or special circumstances, Luke shows how the world can, should and must change to accommodate your needs or those of the autistic person you love, live or work with. He identifies the aspects that impact on life most - partners, friends, work or college, and environment - and outlines the steps that can and should be taken by everyone involved to create an autism-friendly landscape and improve outcomes all round. Covering every setting, from social situations to office or other professional environments, and in all circumstances, Luke's book shows how no-one should have to struggle to exist within the parameters of a world they don't understand. What Works for Autistic Adults will give you the dialogue, tools and starting points to involve every loved one, family member or colleague as advocates for a world where you, or any other autistic adult, can truly flourish.
Avoiding Anxiety in Autistic Adults: A Guide for Autistic Wellbeing
Luke Beardon
£10.99 £10.44As seen on the BBC documentary, Inside Our Autistic Minds, with Chris Packham 'A MUST-READ' Kieran Rose, The Autistic Advocate One of the biggest challenges if you are an autistic adult (or suspect you might be) is navigating the situations which to the predominantly neurotypical population might appear completely benign but which cause you huge stress, anxiety and worry. At work, at university, in social situations, in friendships, relationships, in shops, in unfamiliar environments - there are a wealth of things that can make you feel overwhelmed if the world is full of things that you feel nobody else notices but which cause you huge distress. Dr Luke Beardon has put together an optimistic, upbeat and readable guide that will be essential reading not just for any autistic adult, but for anyone who loves, lives with or works with an autistic person. Emphasising that autism is not behaviour, but at the same time acknowledging that there are risks of increased anxiety specific to autism, this practical book gives clear strategies that the autistic person can adopt to minimise their anxiety and live comfortably in a world full of what may seem to be noise and chaos. At the same time, Avoiding Anxiety in Autistic Adults this book gives clear guidelines and mission statements to those who live or work with autistic people that they, too, can implement to accommodate needs that are different to their own, taking a radical new step towards a genuinely inclusive world in which autistic people don't just survive, but in which they thrive.
Autism in Childhood: For parents and carers of the newly diagnosed
Luke Beardon
£12.99 £12.34As seen on the BBC documentary, Inside Our Autistic Minds, with Chris Packham "If every parent receiving a diagnosis of autism for their child could read this book, it would avoid so much misunderstanding and unhappiness." - Dr Clare Lawrence A diagnosis - or a suspected diagnosis - of autism in a child can be overwhelming for a parent, especially if you know nothing, or very little, about either of them. Dr Luke Beardon is a well-known expert in the field, and this book is an accessible, easy-to-read introduction for those encountering autism for the first time. Gently and honestly, it guides you through the issues you might encounter, busting the myths around autism, and explaining what the diagnosis means for your child, for you, and for your wider family. It looks at sensory profiles, helps you handle your child's anxiety, tackles education, and answers a variety of frequently asked questions. Other topics covered by this sensitive and empowering book include how to have conversations with your child (the 'autistic voice'), how to manage your child's education and - importantly - the undeniable strengths of autism. As an introduction to - and a celebration of - the intriguing, beguiling, frustrating and remarkable world of autism, this book will help you understand your child's unique value and importance in the world.
What Works for Autistic Children
Luke Beardon
£12.99 £12.34Imagine a world where your autistic child is included, engaged and cherished for how they are; a world which changes for autistic children, rather than changing the child. What Works for Autistic Children brings the conversation about inclusivity into the forefront and turns it on its head. Instead of modifying the autistic child and making exceptions or special circumstances, Luke shows you, the parent, how the world can, should and must change to accommodate your child. He identifies the aspects that impact on your child's life most - the family, their school, their friends, their environment - and outlines the steps that can and should be taken by everyone involved to improve their outcome and create an autism-friendly landscape. From early communication, through pre-school, primary school, secondary school - on holidays, school trips and with friends - your child should not have to struggle to exist within the parameters of a world they don't understand. What Works for Autistic Children will give you the dialogue, tools and starting points to involve every professional and family member as advocates for a world where your child flourishes.
Sincerely, Your Autistic Child: What People on the Autism Spectrum Wish Their Parents Knew About Growing Up, Acceptance, and Ide
Emily Paige Ballou
£15.99 £15.19A rare and diverse collection of autistic voices that highlights to parents the unique needs of girls and nonbinary people who are growing up with autism. Most resources available for parents come out of the medical model of disability--from psychologists, educators, parents, and doctors--offering parents a narrow and technical approach to autism. Furthermore, it is widely believed that many autistic girls and women are underdiagnosed, which has further limited the information available regarding the unique needs of girls and nonbinary people with autism. Sincerely, Your Autistic Child represents an authentic resource for parents written by people who understand this experience most, autistic people themselves. From childhood and education to gender identity and sexuality, this anthology of autistic contributors tackles the everyday challenges of growing up while honestly addressing the emotional needs, sensitivity, and vibrancy of autistic girls and nonbinary people. Written like letters to parents, the contributors reflect on what they have learned while growing up with autism and how parents can avoid common mistakes and overcome challenges while raising their child. Sincerely, Your Autistic Child calls parents to action by raising awareness and redefining normal in order to help parents make their child feel truly accepted, valued, and celebrated for who they are.
The Guide to Good Mental Health on the Autism Spectrum
Emma Goodall, Yenn Purkis, et al.
£16.99Filled with strategies and advice, this empowering guide presents practical ways to improve the mental wellbeing of people on the Autism Spectrum. This helpful guide focusses on the specific difficulties that can arise for people on the autism spectrum who may also experience a mental illness. The book includes information on common mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, as well as strategies for improving sleep patterns and mindfulness. Providing guidance on the benefits and drawbacks of therapy pets, medication, and psychotherapy, the authors offer balanced perspectives on treatment options and introduce self-help strategies tailored to meet your needs and improve your mental wellbeing. A number of short personal narratives from people on the autism spectrum and mental health issues illustrate the text. The book also includes a list of resources, books and organisations that can provide further support and inspiration.
Trauma, Stigma, and Autism: Developing Resilience and Loosening the Grip of Shame
Gordon Gates
£20.99This book presents ground-breaking ideas based on current research on how stigma can cause bodily felt trauma in stigmatised or marginalised people, particularly those on the autism spectrum. Gordon Gates draws on his academic research, professional knowledge as a counsellor, and lived experience with Asperger's syndrome to provide a unique framework for combating the psychological and emotional impact of stigma. Explaining how to develop resilience and essential coping mechanisms to manage distress and improve mental health, this book casts new light on the significance of stigma in mental health, and marks a new way forward for anyone who has been made to feel like an "outsider".
Avoiding Anxiety in Autistic Children: A Guide for Autistic Wellbeing
Luke Beardon
£10.99 £10.44One of the biggest challenges for the parent of any autistic child is how best to support and guide them through the situations in life which might cause them greater stress, anxiety and worry than if they were neurotypical. Dr Luke Beardon has put together an optimistic, upbeat and readable guide that will be essential reading for any parent to an autistic child, whether they are of preschool age or teenagers. Emphasising that autism is not behaviour, but at the same time acknowledging that there are risks of increased anxiety specific to autism, this practical book gives insight into the nature of the anxiety experienced by autistic people, as well as covering every likely situation in which your child might feel anxious or worried. It will help you to prepare your child for school, to monitor their anxiety around school, and also to be informed about the educational choices available to your child. It will give you support to help make breaktimes less stressful for them and how to help them navigate things like eating at school and out of the house. Educationally, this book will take you and your child right up to the point of taking exams and leaving school; socially and emotionally it will cover all the challenges from bullying, friendships, relationships, puberty and sex education. It will give suggestions for alternatives in the scenarios that might cause anxiety or confusion in your child; it will also give a full understanding of your child's sensory responses and such behaviours as masking, or echopraxia. As the parent of an autistic child, you may find their path to adulthood different to the one you had expected to take, but as this book makes clear, autism should be celebrated and affirmed. Avoiding Anxiety in Autistic Children helps you to do just that, with practical strategies that will help happiness, not anxiety, remain the over-riding emotion that colours your child's memories of their early years.