Moms of autistics are quite the advocates. When it comes to advocating for their children, they are like the Energizer Bunny. They keep going!
This is great but even the Energizer Bunny runs out of juice at some point. In this episode, I’ll share the importance of recharging your battery and a bonus tip to do just that.
Find the full transcript at thrivingmomsofautistics.com/3
Parenting Autistics is Highly Stressful
We know that stress can have a significant impact on our emotional and physical well-being. We are our child’s greatest supporter. That’s stressful!
That is why we must take care for ourselves. Our child deserves to have a healthy mom and we deserve optimal health.
What keeps you up at night?
That is a loaded question. Many moms say they fear what will happen to their child after they die. Others fear the next phone call from the school. While some fear the dreaded trip to the store with their child in tow.
I know some of you are thinking …all of the above. You are not alone.
Stress is inevitable when raising any child, especially an autistic. So how do you counter high stress levels?
Reducing Stress as a Mom of an Autistic
Stress reducers are not one size fits all. Although moms of autistics have similar stressors, they are all different in how they cope with stress.
Identifying the stressor is easy. How you deal with the stress is another story.
Identifying Stressors Related to Parenting Your Autistic
Have you ever been highly upset that you couldn’t see straight? You literally could not see the forest from the trees.
I would bet that we have all been there. How can you move forward and solve your problem in this state of mind?
This is also what happens when stress builds up. It might be hard to figure out what came first when you are overloaded with stress.
So where do you start?
Where to Start with Parental Stress
To counter stress, you must become aware. Awareness is at the core of taking control of stress. You’re stressed out often for reasons out of your control.
Gaining awareness of the culprit, puts you back in the driver’s seat. IT is your number one asset to conquering stress. It all starts with awareness.
In my Thrive VIP Program, I work with moms of autistics to gain awareness to help them combat future stressors.
Stress is inevitable. Moms must be equipped to deal with it.
Once you’ve gained awareness of the culprit, how do you manage your stress?
Controlling Your Body Before, During, and After a Stress Event
I don’t know about you, but when I’m stressed, I tend to hold my breath at times. Some people breathe erratically to the point of hyperventilation. This does a number on your body, especially when you’re in a fight or flight mode.
It’s hard to think straight during high stress events. You might not get the oxygen your brain needs to fully function and think clearly.
Today, I’ll give you a bonus tip. I’m going to share with you one of my tricks for calming my body and mind, which brings me back to homeostasis. It prepares me for a place where I can get things done.
As moms of autistics, it’s critical that we can do that. We’re often on edge and on high alert for our little ones. It’s not uncommon for moms of autistics to struggle with sleep.
This is why I recommend you try to do when you wake up to prepare you for your day, in the midst of stress, and at night before you go to bed. With practice, it will be natural for you when things go awry.
