My life has been filled with uncertainty for a long time, but my son has helped me stay flexible, adjust expectations and persevere.
It feels like forever since we took up residence in the United States of Anxiety. As the months drag on, that mix of fear and fortitude I felt at the beginning of the pandemic is giving way to fatigue and frustration.
The crisis isn’t abating anytime soon. Yet surprisingly, the uncertainty and angst feel familiar. I know this road. As a parent of a child with special needs, I’ve been traveling it a long time, learning how to stay flexible, adjust expectations and persevere.
The coping strategies I’ve learned on this journey will be useful for any parent navigating these extraordinary times.
Don’t isolate yourself.
Ease up.
A widely cited study from 2010 found that mothers of kids with autism had stress levels similar to those of combat soldiers. This is particularly the case when children have challenging behaviors, according to a 2020 study. I haven’t measured their cortisol levels, but I’m betting that’s true for most parents now living through the pandemic. With no sign of relief anytime soon, parents, especially those with children and teens under 18, are reporting soaring levels of stress that are significantly higher than those reported in 2019, according to a report from the American Psychological Association published in May. For many of us, the pandemic is a mental health crisis.
Lean into facts.
Find your comforts.
Model resilience.
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