Weekly
Healthy Advice From VÄXA
Coping
with the Stress of Autism
If
you have children, you have stress. From the stresses of running
to doctor appointments and activities to the stresses of putting
healthy meals on the table, taking care of children can be
a series of challenges. For families with a child on the autism
spectrum, those everyday stresses can be the least of their
concerns.
Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically
appears during the first three years of life and affects a
person's ability to communicate and interact with others.
Autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a "spectrum
disorder" that affects individuals differently and to varying
degrees. There is no known single cause for autism, but increased
awareness and funding can help families today.
A February 2007 report from the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention concluded that the prevalence of autism had
risen to 1 in every 150 American children, and almost 1 in
94 boys. This report caused a media uproar, but the news was
not a surprise to the 1.5 million Americans living with the
effects of autism spectrum disorder.
Parents of children on the autism spectrum also say the commonly
touted statistic that about 80 percent of all marriages of
parents with a child with autism end in divorce is also no
surprise to them. The financial, physical and emotional strain
on the families dealing with this common condition can make
the typical marital tensions look like child's play.
What can parents do?
Like all parents, parents of children with autism need to
find a way to balance their own needs against the demands
of parenting and caretaking. While autism may not take a day
off, parents need to find a way to do just that, whether it's
through the help of their spouse, the child's grandparents,
friends or even respite care.
The Autism Society of America (ASA) urges parents to reward
themselves for their hard work - even if that reward only
means taking a moment to put on your favorite lotion, or cooking
your family a meal that you enjoy.
It's also important for family members to reward one another.
Spouses need to acknowledge the hard work that each is achieving.
Siblings should be thanked for watching or helping out their
brothers and sisters. It is also important that spouses try
to spend some time alone. Again, the quantity of time is not
as important as the quality. This may include watching television
together when the children are asleep, going out to dinner,
or meeting for lunch when the children are in school. When
your time is limited, remember that something is always better
than nothing.
The ASA suggests that when it comes to reducing stress, be
creative. Parents may want to consider one or more of the
following approaches:
- Prayer
- Exercise
/ yoga
- Deep
breathing / relaxation exercises / meditation
- Writing
in a journal
- Keeping
a daily schedule of things to accomplish
- Joining
others in advocacy efforts at the local, state or federal
level
- Individual,
marital or family counseling
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