Recognizing and Treating Parental Fatigue
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Recognizing and Treating Parental Fatigue
Parenting children with special needs can lead to parental burnout, but an accurate assessment of fatigue and a plan of action can help. Parental fatigue is more than simply being tired at the end of the day; it manifests itself as a complete lack of energy even when you’ve had plenty of sleep and a nutritious diet.
The challenges you face as the parent of a child with special needs are unique, and it can be difficult to find relief. With an assessment and a plan of attack, however, you can put yourself on a path of improvement. This article presented by The Mommies Review can help you put together that plan of attack.
Assess Your Vulnerability to Fatigue and Burnout
Many variables affect your degree of fatigue, including the sleep conditions for you and your child. Frequent interruptions throughout the night can lead to difficulties in concentration and increased hypertension. One of the first things to consider as you assess your level of fatigue is the amount and the quality of your sleep.
In addition to monitoring your sleep, review other areas of your life:
- Do you have an effective social support system? Do you have friends and family who are willing and able to shoulder some of your load?
- Are you able to balance caregiving responsibilities with caring for your own physical and emotional health?
- How do you and your spouse feel about each other? How do you feel about your parenting?
- Do you or your spouse have symptoms of depression or anxiety?
Asking and answering questions such as these can help you recognize how your overall well-being has been affected. The longer fatigue goes unrecognized, the more likely it becomes that you will experience despair, isolation, and withdrawal from the people and activities you enjoyed at one time.
Prioritize Your Health Physically and Emotionally
When you recognize the possibility of parental burnout, you can take steps to feel better. Some simple steps to improve your overall well-being can feel overwhelming as you work with your child.
For example, a clean, organized home is more comfortable and a healthier environment. Rather than tackling the entire home, addressing cleanup in a specific room or for five minutes at a time is more manageable. You can also make changes to your home that simplify daily tasks, such as hanging clean clothes in the laundry room rather than individual bedrooms. Other experienced parents can be a great source of practical tips and solutions.
One area that can be challenging to prioritize with a busy schedule and young children is your nutrition. Some days it can be difficult to even remember to eat! But failing to consume adequate nutrition can leave you feeling run down. So be sure that you are making time to eat nutritious food every day.
Goal Setting
According to professionals, setting and working toward personal goals is another way to treat your fatigue. Some of your first personal goals should be focused on self-care, and others could include picking up a hobby you once enjoyed, learning something new, or even getting a new job. A sense of purpose has many positive benefits, such as increased optimism and satisfaction, and your personal goals provide a purpose.
You may realize that you want to become a teacher, for example. Trying to attend classes in person may be out of the question if you have children to care for. Fortunately, online learning can make it possible for you to earn a teaching certificate with flexible hours that can adjust to your schedule. Having a goal to work towards can help energize you.
Don’t forget to include self-care goals, too. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to learn to make pottery or learn the acrobatic skill of aerial silks. Or maybe you have always wanted to get to an Astros game, but you have never taken the time. Maybe now is the right time to make plans for a family trip to Houston to watch a game! You can look online for great deals on tickets to watch the Houston Astros so you won’t overspend your budget, either. Buying tickets online is also a great way to get the seats you want. The game can be a great excuse for a mini-vacation and some bonding time with the family.
Watch Out for Pitfalls
As you move forward, it’s important to avoid possible negative side-effects of responding to fatigue. Watch out for leaning too heavily on your support system or setting too many responsibilities on your spouse. Avoid under-treating anxiety or depression linked to other areas of your life. Appropriate self-care can devolve into self-indulgence without continual self-reflection. Working with a therapist can help you balance what’s best for you and your health with the challenges you have to address.
Parenting a child with special needs can be both challenging and fulfilling. Recognizing the possibility of burnout, consistent self-reflection, and appropriate self-care are vital to maintaining your own health and well-being Check out The Mommies Review for helpful resources and tips for keeping kids busy, finding great discounts, and reviews of new products.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
