https://www.verywellmind.com/t...This article explores the various causes of parental fatigue and provides several ideas on how to treat and combat it when your child has special needs.
Caring for a child who has special needs is often a joyous experience, but for many parents, it can also be mentally and physically exhausting. You might be coping with anything from depression and anxiety to poor sleep habits, all of which contribute to one another, or you might be straining yourself physically while helping your child with heavy equipment every day. Each of these things can affect your ability to be the best caregiver you can be, and they can create challenges for you as an individual as well. Assessing your level of fatigue is important, as is finding resources to help you through your daily responsibilities.
Use this brief guide to figure out what your personal needs are, how to cope with fatigue and boost your mental health, and how to prevent fatigue from setting in.
Take a look at your routines and lifestyle
When it comes to figuring out what your fatigue levels are, there are a few specific things you can look at that will give you some insight:
1. Do you suffer from anxiety or depression? If so, what are the indicators for those mood disorders and how do they affect your daily routine?
2. Do you sleep well at night?
3. Are you responsible for physically assisting your child on a daily basis? How does that affect your stamina and motivation levels when it comes to physical activity for yourself?
4. Are you able to interact socially with others throughout the week?
Writing down the answers to these questions can help you get a sense of the scope of your duties and how they affect you on a daily basis.
Make time for yourself
An important part of addressing fatigue is making time for yourself. It can be difficult to know where to look for making time, but one idea is to enlist the help of tutors to help relieve you of some of the burden of navigating your child’s schoolwork.
You can use the time you get back to pursue your own interests, whether it’s reading a book or starting a business. It’s important to protect your personal assets in a business, so forming your business as an LLC is ideal. You’ll also realize tax benefits as well.
Also, set aside some time so you can just relax. With some candles and incense you can set up a relaxing space where you can meditate, read, or just spend some time lost in thought. After all, there’s absolutely no harm in doing nothing for a little while!
Create a plan of action
Once you have a list of tasks and responsibilities that contribute to your wellbeing, think about how you can make some positive changes to your lifestyle. If your sleep routine needs some work, take a look at the things that are affecting it first; for instance, if you’re tired after a long day but have trouble unwinding, put down your phone or device and take a hot shower or read a book instead.
Practicing self-care before bed can help you relax and prepare your body and mind for rest. If the physicality of your job as a caregiver leaves you too tired to exercise or take part in activities, look for budget-friendly upgrades and modifications that can be made to your home to take some of the weight off your shoulders.
Prepare for the negatives
With every new action you take in your life, there is bound to be a downside. The good news is, you can prepare yourself for these negative outcomes in order to minimize them. For instance, taking more time for yourself through the week might mean spending less time with your partner. Focusing on treating your anxiety or depression can bring up painful memories or emotions. By keeping communication open with your loved ones, getting them involved in your care habits, and seeking professional assistance for some areas of your life, you can prevent those downsides.
Go for it!
After spending some time thinking about how you can improve your mental and physical health, it’s important to consider some goals for the future. Starting a new hobby or going back to school are just two ways you can make a difference for yourself and your family, and with an online program, you can work on your degree from home at an accredited institution while still taking care of your responsibilities.
Battling and preventing parental fatigue takes time to learn and implement, so be kind to yourself as you start on this journey. Look for support from friends and family as you go, and think of different ways you can focus on your own needs even in small measures.
picture from esveralife.com