Coping with Anxiety and Nausea in Autism

Anxiety and nausea have been a large part of my life. I have learned to manage it better now, as I know that nothing awful is going to happen. However, it can be scary as it is such a persistent issue.

Anxiety and nausea are separate symptoms, but for me, they have also been part of a feedback loop. Such as feeling anxious about a situation, and nausea appears because of anxiety. Also, feeling nauseous because of gastrointestinal issues causes anxiety because I fear I am going to throw up.

Anxiety

Anxiety in autistic people can be a common experience, and I am no exception. Many factors, such as sensory overload, uncertainty, differences in social communication, and related issues, can affect executive function, including planning, organising, switching between tasks, and time awareness. When I was young, I went through a period of health anxiety where I became excessively worried about developing a serious illness, likely due to heightened sensory awareness of symptoms like headaches or nausea. Still, it was not serious, and over time, it passed.

Ways I have learned to cope include making my environment predictable about what will happen, using lists to organise, using calendars for appointments, and setting alarms to get to another place on time. Knowing I can get out of a stressful situation can help a lot.

Image by WOKANDAPIX from Pixabay

Nausea

In my teenage years, I suffered from feelings of nausea daily. Once I entered my twenties, that feeling faded. I had twenty years free until it returned in my mid-forties. Initially, the cause was unclear to me. I presumed it was because of hormonal changes consistent with my age, such as puberty and perimenopause. However, I have learned that it is also common in people with autism.

Autism and anxiety often occur together, which can lead to digestive issues, nervous system dysregulation, and sensory processing sensitivity. This is partly due to gut-brain connections and the brain’s ability to sense what is happening inside the body.

There are ways I have tried to manage this, such as drinking mint tea, eating small meals, and avoiding strong smells. These are small strategies, but they help me.

Final Thoughts

The connection between nausea and anxiety is real and can be quite common. I learned that there is a gut-brain link that can cause these symptoms. I have had them for a long time now, and with small strategies, I can manage them.

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