[aahealth] Sources Of Stress For Families Of Children With Autism

Please consider this free-reprint article written by:
Connie Limon
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Article Title: Sources Of Stress For Families Of Children With
Autism
Author: Connie Limon
Word Count: 1022
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Parents are already familiar with the stress that comes with
preparing meals, bathing, homework, shopping and so on. In
addition to these stressors are those parents meet with
parent-child conflicts, time schedules to meet and a child's
well-being in general. A family who has a child on the autism
spectrum experiences added unique stressors.

Current research suggests that parents of children with autism
experience greater stress than parents of children with
intellectual disabilities and Down Syndrome. A child with
autism may not be able to express basic wants and needs in the
same manner as individuals without the disorder. Parents are
often guessing why the child is crying. Is it because he/she is
hungry, thirsty, hurting or sick? Not being about to determine
the child's needs can leave parents feeling frustrated and
filled with sorrow. The child with autism unable to communicate
with its parents effectively may be left frustrated and unhappy.
This frustration can lead to aggression and self-injury
behaviors that can make the child a danger to himself and to
other family members.

A lack of appropriate leisure, play and social skills often
require constant structure of family time, which can become
quite difficult to accomplish in the home environment. Families
may not be able to attend events together at scheduled times.
Mom might have to stay home with the child who has autism,
while dad take another sibling to their baseball game or school
band concert. This in turn can create problems in the marital
relationship in addition to whatever other problems already
exist. There is often a lack of qualified people who can care
for the autistic child while mom and dad find time to spend
alone.

Additional problems may be struggles with getting the child
with autism to sleep through the night or eat a wide variety of
foods for proper health and nutrition.

Other sources of stress for parents of children with autism may
include:

• Reactions from society: Parents may feel self-conscious about
taking a child with autism out into the community. The may fear
others will stare or make rude comments about their child.
These problems may leave parents of children with autism
experiencing a sense of isolation from friends, relatives and
community

• Concerns about future care: Parents know they provide their
children with autism the best care possible and they fear that
no one else will take care of their child like they do.

• Finances: Evaluations, home programs and therapies can drain
a family's resources. One parent may have to give up his or job
to take care of the child leaving the family with even less
money to meet financial obligations.

• Feelings of Grief: Many parents of children with autism
grieve the loss of the "typical" child they expected to have.
They also grieve the loss of a lifestyle they expected or
planned for themselves and their family. This can be an
additional source of stress on the family, which is ongoing.

Sibling's sources of stress may include:

• Embarrassment around their peers and jealousy about the extra
time parents have to spend with their brother or sister

• Frustration about not being about to communicate effectively
with a brother or sister who has autism

• May be the target of aggressive behaviors of the child with
autism

• Worries over their parents stress and grief about the child
with autism

• Concern about their role as a future caregiver for the
sibling or siblings with autism

Grandparents also grieve over the loss of the typical
grandchild expected and may be concerned about the stress and
difficulties their children are experiencing. Grandparents
often want to help but lack the skills to deal with children
who have autism.

How can families cope with the stress of living with a child or
children who have autism?

Some suggestions for helping families may include:

• Remember that you must take action before progress toward
solutions can be made

• Take time for yourself and other family members to avoid
burnout

• Keep in mind that just a few minutes per day can make a big
difference in taking time for yourself

• Do things for yourself that you know normally makes you feel
better

• Parents who have children with autism have a greater need to
reward themselves

• Family members need to reward one another

• Spouses need to acknowledge the hard work each is performing

• Thank siblings for watching or helping their brothers and
sisters who have autism

• Spouses need to find time for alone. This may include
watching T.V. together when the children are asleep or going
out to dinner

• Families may also want to engage in activities occasionally
without the individual with autism. Everyone deserves some time
together that is not threatened by the challenges of autism.

• Network with other families affected by autism

• Attend support groups for parents, siblings and grandparents
through educational programs, parent resource centers, and
local chapter of the Autism Society of America.

• Prayer

• Exercise/yoga

• Keeping a journal

• Keeping a daily schedule of tasks to accomplish

If you witness a family member or a friend showing signs of
stress even if it means you will not be appreciated for your
efforts, getting as much assistance for a child with autism and
their families can only make things better over the long term.

Source: American Autism Society

Disclaimer: *This article is not meant to diagnose, treat or
cure any kind of a health problem. These statements have not
been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Always
consult with your health care provider about any kind of a
health problem and especially before beginning any kind of an
exercise routine.

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.

About The Author: Connie Limon. Visit us at
http://www.about-autism.info for more information about autism
spectrum disorders.
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For more free-reprint articles by Connie Limon please visit:
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