Autism and depression in parents

Autism is a very challenging disorder. The more extreme your child has it, the harder it is to deal with it on a daily basis. Most parents reap the benefit of affection and love from their children that makes all the difficult moments easier, but children with autism usually don’t want to be touched, held, hugged or kissed. With some lacking the language skills to tell their parents they love them, there is no return on the emotional, physical, and fiscal struggles parents invest when it comes to the children with autism that can’t respond or even say thank you.

That said, it’s not surprising that these parents are frequently quite depressed. If their autistic child is the only child they have, they are depressed and more likely to divorce than couples who argue over money and religion. Finding outside help so parents can get a break is very difficult, but absolutely necessary. Parents should get three breaks a week from their autistic children with troublesome behaviors in order to maintain their own sanity and still be able to help their children.

When they do get a break, parents with challenging autistic children should do one or more of the following:

1. See a therapist. It helps to talk to someone about all the negative feelings you may have toward this child.

2. Get some exercise. It lowers the heart rate and the levels of stress you feel. The natural endorphins from exercise also help you feel happier, a plus if you are depressed.

3. Go out or see friends. Positive connections help you deal with the negatives.

4. Do something special for yourself. You’re a parent of an autistic child and that is not easy. Consider it a little pat on the back for hard work well done.

5. Soak in a tub or read a book to relax. You need this.

6. If the depression is so great you’re crying all the time, get medication and get help.

7. Spend time with your other children. They know their sibling has problems, but they feel neglected too when you’re trying to deal with a special needs child. Do something fun together to tighten those bonds.

8. Seek love and support from family and friends. Don’t be afraid to ask for it. With your male spouse, you will have to ask because they won’t notice your world crashing without you pointing it out to them. If both parents are busy, You may hire a babysitter for your special needs child.

9. Breathe. Find a quiet corner without a single sound and focus on your breathing. It helps.

10. Rekindle your love affair with your partner. This is a relationship that suffers most when you both have to deal with a little more than you can bear.

In short, parents with depression can’t make their autistic children go away and don’t want to. They just need some time and a lot of help. Doing for themselves first for their overall health will make them a little less depressed, but seeing a therapist and getting a prescription if it’s really dire is better. It’s all a lot harder if you can’t and don’t want to crawl out of bed anymore and face a long challenging day with a child with autism. Knowing how to cope with it makes all the difference.

Read about, “Autism And Depression In Teenagers

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