Having a child who is autistic can be quite challenging, while at the same time can be very rewarding. Every day is different. Some days will go very well for you and your child, but other days will present great challenges that will test your patience. You need to find some way to be able to cope with the task of working with your child and remain strong. Here we present some tips for that coping process.
One step that has been very helpful for many parents of an autistic child is finding a local support group, consisting of members who are facing the same things that face every day. They understand what you are going through, they can relate, and the group will allow you the chance to exchange tips and ideas for coping in the days to come.
You may want to consider keeping a journal or diary. This should be updated daily where you freely note what happened that day and how you feel about it. Be detailed when you make your daily entries in this journal. The reason for that is that since you are working with your child every day, you may not see the very small improvements that are taking place, simply because they take place so gradually. But taking some moments every now and then to re-read past entries, you will be more readily able to see the progress that has been made from when you made that journal entry last year or the year before. Keeping a journal and writing down your feelings can also help many people release the stress and frustration they are feeling.
Take time to get away every now and then, which is something everyone needs. Make some time for yourself. Find a qualified care-giver for your child and then go out alone or with your spouse or a friend. It will feel great to get out and have some time to yourself to enjoy things. Go see a movie that you have been wanting to see. Above all, do not allow yourself to feel guilty about getting out. This outing for you is something you need to do for yourself as part of the coping process, and to allow you to renew your inner strength.
Do not be afraid to ask for help. There is nothing embarrassing about asking for help and it does not mean that you are a bad people or incapable. When you ask for help, you are admitting, at least at this moment in time, that you cannot do this yourself. If you are feeling high levels of stress or frustration, this is not good for either you or your child.
Sometimes this occurs when you are trying out a new treatment that seems to be having no effect or perhaps even a detrimental effect. Call your doctor and explain what is going on and that you need a different treatment, or you need help to understand why you are seeing the behaviors that you are noting.
Being the parent of an autistic child can be a challenge, but by understanding how things appear to your child and how they are interpreting things can help you cope much better with helping both you and your child to manage this in the future.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Financial need for child with Autism
By: les | 21-06-2008
Does anyone know of any speech therapist or speech therapy businesses that offer free funding for children with autism in Atlanta, GA?
Hyperactivity
By: Leximomma03 | 08-06-2008
My child is in the spectrum of autism and to calm her down i have heard giving them chocolate covered coffee beans would help, is this true?
ADHD or Autistic?
By: Chrissie | 02-06-2008
My son is 10 years old and has been diagnosed with ADHD since he was 4. He's been in Special Ed. since he's 3. I've always seen some autism behaviors in him, but his teachers have said he doesn't have autism. He has no attention span, hates loud noises and bright lights, doesn't always look you in the eye when he talks, likes to line things up. However, he has no problems socially. He makes friends very easily. How do I know if he is autistic? Is it possible to be a "little" autistic? I always thought you were born with autism. Can you develop it later on, say at 10 years old? Thank you.
Autism schools in NJ?
By: jswift71 | 05-05-2008
What are some good autism schools in the South Jersey area? Like Camden or Burlington county?
How does the increase in diagnosed autism cases in ...
By: Kora | 02-04-2008
How does the increase in diagnosed autism cases in the United States compare with autism cases in other countries?
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By: smiilee | 01-04-2008
I am interested in starting a consulting company-working with children diagnosed with autism. I need to know the steps and certifications that i need to have to make this possible.
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