Imagine the doctor telling you that your child has autism. This happened to me and I was very devastated.
So, how prevalent is autism?
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 1 in 45 kids in America has autism with majority being boys.
Studies also show that the rate is increasing at an alarming rate.
I know that raising a typical child is stressful. However, raising an autistic kid is even more stressful.
This is because you are constantly dealing with tantrums, meltdowns, trying to ensure that they don’t run away, going to therapists and doctors and avoiding sounds and sights that give them sensory overload.
In this article, I’ll give you tips of managing this stress.
Personal Growth Is Key
The stress that comes with autism makes it difficult for parents to ensure they grow both mentally and physically. This is because they are only focused on their child.
It is not bad to focus on your child, after all they need you a lot. However, taking the time to grow personally, will make it easier for you to attend to their needs.
Are you getting frustrated with your child?
It is normal to find that autistic parents tend to get frustrated a lot. But, this is the last thing you want to do. Therefore, this all boils down to dealing with your personal needs first.
Come Up With Ways To Deal With Your Emotions
Just as I had mentioned in the beginning, I was very devastated when I learned that my child was on the spectrum.
I was in denial and did not want to accept that my son had autism. However, acceptance is very vital. Failure to accept might cause you to become sad.
Take in every emotion as it comes. This will help you to nurture compassion and acceptance. The last thing you want is to direct your anger to your child or people close to you.
It is also important to understand that people close to you are dealing with similar emotions hence the need to find the right approach to manage them.
Make sure you are all supportive of each other.
Find a Support Group
It is unfortunate that most friends and family members will not understand what you’re going through. Therefore, scout for support groups with parents who are raising children on the spectrum.
This is essential because they experience similar emotions and challenges like you. It is normal for someone to feel validated and recognized if they feel you understand what they’re going through.
This is no different with parents with autistic kids.
Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Assistance
I know this can be difficult to do simply because you don’t know if the person will understand you. But what I know is that a problem shared is a problem half solved.
Therefore, rather than bottling up your emotions, it is better to talk to someone you trust. By doing this, they will know why you feel the way you are feeling.
Takeaway
As the article has explained, taking care of a child on the spectrum is no small feat. But, this should not be a reason to be stressed.
This is because there are numerous ways you can manage stress. Make sure you take care of yourself mentally and physically.
This eventually makes your child develop and grow as they should. Lastly, always ask for help when you have any concern.