I am certain that if you asked the majority of parents caring for a child with autism, the one thing they would all admit is this: they wish there were a way to make the stress go away. As a mother, I did everything I could to help my daughter with autism — but that so often meant I was neglecting my own health in the process. These are some of the ways I found to relieve stress and depression while caring for an autistic child.
Two habits that lightened the load
- Make friends with other parents who understand — you are not meant to carry this in isolation.
- Accept help when it is offered, and rest whenever you can. Sleep is not a luxury.
Make Friends With Other Parents
Suffering in isolation is always harder than suffering alongside others. By making friends with other parents who are also caring for autistic children, you will find genuine emotional support. They can also share the small, hard-won tips that help you understand and care for your own child a little better.
By making friends with other parents caring for autistic children, you will find emotional support.
When I first discovered that my little daughter was autistic, my world was torn apart. I was so confused about what to do. One of the very first things I did in search of a solution for her was to join an online community of parents caring for children with autism. It made an enormous difference — for both of us. As a parent, the more you understand about autism, the less stressed and depressed you tend to become.
Seek Help When You Can
Lack of sleep is one of the many difficulties a parent caring for a child with autism has to endure. Deprived of rest, our stress, depression and anxiety all climb. So please — do not insist on doing every part of the caregiving yourself, no matter how stubborn your child may be, and no matter how much you feel you ought to manage it alone.
Occasionally invite a family member, a friend, or a nanny who understands autism to help you care for your child. Those brief moments of respite can help you a great deal — more than you might believe until you finally allow yourself one.
None of this makes the hard days disappear. But taken together, community and rest gave me back enough of myself to keep showing up for my daughter, day after day. That, in the end, is what she needs most.
