Resources for Parents of Autistic Kids

Julie Obradovic of Age of Autism has written an interesting editorial on the site entitled Autism, Stress and Can We Prevent Tragedy?  The gist of her argument is that parents who murder their children with autism are obviously pushed to the brink by the stress they encounter.  Her conclusion is that support for parents is just as important as support for children, and deserves both funding and attention:

We need better strategies for dealing with the stress Autism brings, creating a support team around us, communicating our emotions to friends and loved ones, getting and asking for respite care, and more. We need time to take care of our physical health, our nutritional needs, and honestly, just to get some sleep or have a good cry. Perhaps we could allocate at least some of the money from our support groups and federal funds to start some sort of Parent Wellness movement.

Coping: Depression and Mothers of Children with Autism

If you're the mother of a child with autism, you're almost certainly under significant stress. And studies show you may even be at risk of depression.

Coping with the Stress of Autism: When to Find Professional Help

Parenting a child with autism is stressful. But when is the stress too much? This article, featuring advice from Robert Naseef, Ph.D., helps parents assess when they might need professional help in coping with the stress that autism brings.

Tips for Handling Guilt

If you have a child on the autism spectrum, you're probably coping with guilt. You should do more, be more, spend more, learn more. But then again, maybe it's ok to be gentler with yourself!

What If...? Getting Past Blame and Worry to Help Your Autistic Child

Nothing is more debilitating for the parent of a child with autism than self-blame and worry. "What ifs" can can damage marriages, overwhelm emotions, and -- in the long run -- sour your relationship with your child. Here are some thoughts on how to get over the what ifs.

Before You Drive Yourself Crazy Over an Autism Diagnosis

Before you drive yourself crazy over child's autism diagnosis, take a deep breath. Then read this article. You're probably doing most things right already - and there's nothing that you can't try tomorrow.

More and better parent supports are needed in our community.  Equally, it's important to provide parents with clear, factual information about autism and its outcomes.  Parents who expect a cure as a result of their efforts may be the most vulnerable to depression, guilt and anxiety.

Also check out the Autism at About Dot Com Facebook page.

Source: Autism Blog
By Lisa Jo Rudy, Autism Guide