-
Navigating Autistic Shutdown and Burnout Through a Neurodiversity-Affirming Approach
(Note: This article is written in neurodiversity-affirming language, including identity-first language) Autistic shutdown is a widely recognized but poorly understood neurological response to overwhelming stress. Despite its significance, research on shutdown remains scarce, with most scholarly...
-
When the Caregiver Role Reverses: Navigating Caregiving as an Autistic Person
Throughout my career, I have heard many times that people with Autism require structure and routine. I have had countless conversations about caring or providing services for people with Autism. What happens when life takes unexpected turns? What happens when someone becomes dependent on them? How...
-
Building Resilience Through Self-Care and Support Teams During Divorce Transitions
Stressful times can take a toll on a person’s physical, psychological, and emotional well-being, and for those experiencing divorce transitions, the stress is taken to another level. According to the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS), also known as the Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale,...
-
Prioritizing Autistic-Centered Self-Care for Mental Health and Well-Being
I could never relate to most social media posts with self-care ideas, especially the ones showing nails getting done or drinking wine in a bathtub. The thought of going to a beauty salon has always given me anxiety, and baths were never my thing. I couldn’t really find self-care tips or ideas...
-
Autistic Resilience: Overcoming Adversity Through Self-Care and Strengths
I could say ‘Adversity’ was my middle name, but I’d be lying… it’s Rae. Still, like so many other autistic people, adversity has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. Research has validated that claim by saying autistic people have an increased risk of experiencing...
-
Establishing and Promoting Self-Care Within a Human Service Agency
In an industry faced with post-pandemic staffing shortages, the question of how to promote self-care and decrease burnout among autism service providers has become more critical than ever before. Burnout can be defined as a work-related illness that results from ongoing psychological stress (Leoni...
-
Navigating Autistic Burnout as an Autistic Parent
Being an autistic parent is hard. When your kids are also neurodivergent, this can make life even more challenging when trying to navigate everyone’s complex, often diametrically opposed needs. When we need space, a lot of the time our children need connection and closeness, and we can become...
-
Your Child Has Just Been Diagnosed with Autism – Now What?
Every family has their own personal journey towards an autism diagnosis for their child. Whether it brings the confirmation of what may have been suspected or the news of something completely unexpected, the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder can have a significant impact on a family. Like the...
-
Beyond the Autism Diagnosis: Understanding the Multifaceted Needs of Parents
As the number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) increases, so does the number of parents trying to navigate the complexities that accompany an autism diagnosis. Raising an autistic child is challenging for many parents, and many reported higher levels of stress compared to...
-
Autism and Marriage: Making Your Relationship Work Under the Pressures of Caregiving
Having a child with autism can certainly put strain on a marriage. I should know. After over 20 years of marriage with two children on the autism spectrum, my marriage came to an end. So why am I writing an article about making your relationship work? Because it’s too important not to. My...
