Tips For Parenting With Less Stress
Children with autism often have difficulty connecting to others and caring for themselves, which is why it's so important that parents take care of themselves as well! Here are some ways you can achieve this:
Prioritize everyone's sleep
Lack of sleep has been linked to depression, anxiety, obesity, diabetes among other things. For a parent raising an autistic child getting enough sleep is crucial not only for their own health but also the health of their child. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends 10 hours per night for children up to age 13 years old and 8 hours per night for adolescents 14-18 years old. If getting enough shut eye is a consistent issue for you and your family, try Sleep Now. We use this melatonin spray because it's non-addictive, and provides calming relief fast so you and your loved ones can get a restful night's sleep and wake up refreshed - with no morning grogginess!
Find your tribe
Finding people who understand what you're going through can be difficult when you have an autistic child but it's very important. There are many communities online that can connect you with parents who will understand what it's like to raise an autistic child. Sometimes all you need is a little support from one person to make it through the day. In addition, parents these days are finding solace in online communities where they post supportive messages and photos of their child to help other who might be struggling.
Supplement with magnesium
Magnesium has been known to improve physical and mental health among other things, magnesium is also believed to be able to help ease or even prevent symptoms of autism in children by relaxing/calming the nervous system. Magnesium is known as the 'anti-stress' mineral, and also one of the body’s premiere biochemical enzyme catalysts. It is essential for glutathione synthesis, energy production, cell replication and integrity, detoxification, muscular/neurological function, and maintaining body pH balance. It can be used by parents and children to calm the nervous system and restore the body's natural balance for more harmonious days and night - something we could all benefit from! The Liqui-Mag formula is an ultra-colloidal suspension for optimal absorption and cellular uptake. Essentially predigested, less breakdown by the digestive tract is required, facilitating superior absorption in the presence of gastrointestinal issues that limit the breakdown and absorption of tablets, capsules and powdered supplements.
Create a calming environment
One of the most common challenges faced by those who care for individuals on the spectrum or with ADHD, is maintaining an organized home environment. A calm home provides increased focus on school or work tasks as well as improved moods. To help create a calm environment at home for you could start with these ideas:
- Create a designated "quiet zone" with things like books and board games for those times when your child needs to take a break from the noise in their head.
- Find a place to store your child’s toys. This can be the bedroom, an office, or even a box under the bed.
- Clear some space on your kitchen countertops by investing in one of those drawer organizers, which will help make it easy for your child to independently do things like making cereal or sandwiches without having to ask for every step of the process.
- If your child's room doesn't have enough natural light, try adding a lamp that has an adjustable dimmer. Having this sort of control over the light gives them a better opportunity to regulate their mood.
By taking care of yourself as a parent, and making your home environment more organized, you'll have more energy to take care of your child. There are many other ways that parents can take care of themselves but these are some of the most important. Keep in mind that magnesium will not cure autism but it can help lessen some symptoms and magnesium deficiency is a common problem with autistic children so magnesium supplements are very helpful for this reason as well.
