The Quiet Struggle: Mental Health of Caregivers in the Autism Spectrum
This is a very important aspect indeed
Every day, a silent war is fought in the back rooms of many homes. It’s not fought on a battlefield or with weapons. Caretakers of people with substantial autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) fight it inside their hearts and thoughts.
It’s common to ignore the mental health issues that these caregivers deal with. Still, other research indicates that they are just as accurate and severe as those experienced by combat veterans or parents of children with terminal illnesses.
The Unexpected Front Line of Combat
Moms of autistic children are more likely than not to experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Sure, researchers have compared the stress profiles and those of war veterans.
That might not sound startling until you realize how much stress these moms deal with daily.
Profound autism is linked to unpredictable behaviors, communication difficulties, and overwhelming requirements. They may set off an ongoing state of extreme caution.
Some have likened those mother cortisol levels to a soldier’s hypervigilance during combat. It’s a state of…
