Behavior and Stress
The word ‘stress’ has a negative connotation for most people. Stress is anything that thrills us,worries us, scares us or threatens us. Stress can be a strong motivator and energizer at the appropriate intensity.
With too little stress or energy, a person may feel ‘bored’. For the child with autism, if the arousal drops below an optimal level, he will likely seek stimulation from other sources to keep himself alert. It may be in appropriate or inappropriate ways, for example, he may withdraw, start chewing on his shirt or poke another child.
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