By: Alshaba Billawala
Having a kid with a disability can have a great impact on parents and the family unit overall. Often when parents find out that their child is diagnosed, their attention and time is dedicated to ensuring that their children are connected with resources that will help foster their development. After all, it is well known that early intervention can be integral in impacting outcomes for children with disabilities.
What is often less frequently talked about however, is the impact that caring for a child with special needs can have on the entire family. When working alongside families of children with disabilities, the attention is directed towards caring and supporting the child and less attention is dedicated towards ensuring that other family members are also taken care of.
Some common difficulties that families experience include:
- Emotional and physical exhaustion
- Breakdown in family relationships
- Increased marital conflict
- Financial burdens
- Increase in behavioral problems among siblings
- Anxiety and stress
Although, in small doses, these difficulties can be manageable, over time these can lead to adverse effects (e.g., caregiver burnout). It is therefore extremely important that family members ensure that they are receiving adequate support for themselves. Some helpful first steps you can take are:
- Schedule time for yourself. Often times when talking to parents, they report that it seems impossible or even selfish to take time to do something enjoyable for themselves when there is so much to do. The downside of giving without taking time to replenish your own energy is a risk of caregiver burnout. If you take some time to replenish your resources, even if it’s a half an hour a week, you will notice that you may have more energy and grace to tackle your various tasks and to-do lists.
- Identify positive coping mechanisms. Balancing various appointments, caring for your children, etc. can be extremely taxing and stressful. Therefore, having some proactive ideas of things that can help you cope with stress (e.g., relaxation, exercise, journaling) can be very helpful.
- Get connected to support groups. There are various support groups around the city that bring together families who are fighting similar battles. Having a group of supportive individuals who can understand your struggles and can support you can be priceless. See: https://autismcalgary.com/upcoming-support-recreation-groups/
- Become informed about resources available to you. Often, it can be overwhelming to navigate various programs to figure out which ones will best meet your needs. Luckily, there are several professionals on our team who have years of experience who may be able to connect you to the resource you need.
- Identify if you are experiencing any signs of caregiver burnout and ask for help. Some common warning signs include: changes in weight, appetite, or energy levels, increased and prolonged sickness, increase in use of unhealthy coping mechanisms (e.g., alcohol), increased irritability and emotional exhaustion.
If you find yourself experiencing any of the difficulties listed above and are interested in learning more about resources that may be available to help you and your family, contact us anytime. https://www.connecting-dots.ca/contact-us/