Five Steps to Sanity
It is certainly easy to fall into the trap of hopelessness and despair when involved in 24/7 care of an individual with a significant disability. Some family members of individuals with autism find themselves in a “forever parenting” role of continual caregiving. Those folks, as well as others who are in a less intense role, might find these Ten Steps to Sanity useful in maintaining hope and optimism.
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Step 1. Recognize factors you cannot control. Your goal is not perfection, but rather a good quality of life.
Step 2. Build on strengths and abilities. Even people with very significant disabilities have some strengths. Take time to discover those and help maximize potential in those areas.
Step 3. Take time to connect one-to-one often during the day. Even if your friend with autism is not responsive to your presence, pause occasionally for a few minutes of quiet, face-to-face time in order to build and strengthen that personal relationship.
Step 4. Start early on age-appropriate behaviors and activities. Be cautious about getting stuck with the same pre-school cartoons or with childish phrases. Your youngster may keep those habits for 30 years. Help them develop interest in animals, music, astronomy, airplanes, gardening, or other lifetime hobby.
Step 5. Bust boredom and isolation. Don’t let your lives be ruled by schedules, necessary tasks, and daily routine. Get out. Explore. Enjoy the small things in life. Shift your focus by lending a helping hand to others who are less fortunate.
Tune in tomorrow for more ideas.
Note to FAQautism.com listeners and readers: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. You can click on a button to send me an email with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solutions. Check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. www.FAQautism.com
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