Dealing with stress and autism at home
Rose Mabiza • 5 mins read
08 November 2023
As women, we never get to talk about things that bother or stress us, yet we carry so much pressure. In recognition of Autism Awareness Month and National Stress Awareness Month, I want to share my experiences of how I've coped with stress at various stages of our autism journey.
I have been brave and shared personal things on my chest the past few weeks. In my last blog, I shared about embracing our autism journey as a family. I didn't even know how people would react or what they would say, but surprisingly, I was overwhelmed and humbled by the response. In this blog, I will share my daily struggles as a mother of an autistic child and how I cope with stress.
Parenting challenges
Parenting an autistic child comes with its own set of challenges. At times, it can be stressful. This is magnified when people around you lack understanding of how to deal with their additional needs.
It takes a lot of patience to look after an autistic child. My family has been through a lot of stress, emotionally, financially and even physically. As I mentioned in my 6th blog, I consider myself lucky to have strong family support. It helped me gain confidence when I started this journey and prepared me mentally. The road ahead won't get easier, but I will embrace it, knowing how rewarding it is to have my child and my family with me every step of the way.
Coping with stress at home
As we all know, stress is an inevitable part of life. Over the years, I have learnt to reduce and manage stress in many ways. I have learnt the power of positive thinking and modifying family rituals, as well as the importance of support from family and friends. As a family, we have realised that we’ve stuck together through all the stress associated with our son’s diagnosis, even though we could’ve easily taken the stress on each other. With that, I am sure that no matter what comes our way, we will stick together even more.
My family understands that raising an autistic child can be quite costly. My husband and I remain committed to our family obligations no matter what it takes. Some things around us are beyond our control, but how we react to stressful situations can be defining moments. We make it a point to focus on the things we can control, giving us the peace of mind and the clarity to take each day as it is and make it better.
Surrounding my autistic child with the right circle
It is more likely that parents of autistic children experience more stress than parents of other children. I have experienced it with my two boys.
Having an autistic child, being around people has not been easy. Understanding what others are thinking or feeling is challenging and stressful. It was difficult to make friends. Accepting what we have was one of the biggest reliefs since we no longer worried about anything we have no control over.
Now, I can take a break and go on a holiday or out for a meal with my friends without worrying. Building a strong support system with the involvement of family members is one of the best ways to help autistic children.
Conclusion
Throughout my life, I have learnt that having a strong support system is essential to ensuring one's health and well-being. Family involvement is one of the most effective methods of stress management. I am forever grateful for the support I have received from my family and friends since day one.
Some people are inspired by my bravery in sharing my personal story. Many encourage me to keep writing as they learn a lot from reading my weekly blogs. Where I am now, I have realised that I still have a lot of things to say and more experiences to share. Hopefully, my story has helped those facing mental difficulties and stress. There is no substitute for good mental health, and you are no exception.
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