Exploring Autism Acceptance
Can you believe April has already finished? We don’t have to finish exploring Autism there though and thought we could look at the many ways to explore Autism Acceptance. We’d like to shine the light on the carers, parents, spouses, and support people and the AMAZING contributions their role brings to the lives of individuals with Autism. Being a carer / support can be rewarding in so many ways and yet not all days / moments are easy or go to plan. Some days can be tough. A recent Carer Wellbeing Survey (Caring for Others and Yourself – The 2021 Carer Wellbeing Survey Executive Summary) showed that carers typically have higher rates of psychological distress than the general population, and the levels of psychological distress often increase with the levels of care being provided. Taking on a carer role can also impact on other areas of life such as physical health, employment, relationships and social connectedness. With this in mind, carer wellbeing is really important to prevent burnout. Here are some ways to increase and maintain wellbeing:
Movement activities – Do something physical like a walk, stretch or yoga. Try an exercise you enjoy.
Sleep – Limit coffee and alcohol especially in the latter part of the day. Try relaxing with a warm bath or herbal tea or soothing music before bedtime. If you can’t fall asleep after 20 minutes, get up and do something else then try again. Try a brief rest in the daytime if your night’s sleep is disturbed. If you find sleeping difficult on a regular basis, see your nurse or doctor.
Diet – Eating a balanced diet and eating consistently. Treat yourself with “sometimes food”.
Taking time for self – create a list of things you enjoy that would give you a short break and help renew your energy. This might include things like sitting for 10 mins with a cup of tea, reading a chapter or 2 of a book, watering the plants, playing with a pet, a 5-minute guided meditation or adding a few more pieces to a jigsaw puzzle. Aim to do one each day.
Social – aim to keep contact with friends and attend scheduled social activities as much as possible.
At Minding Family, we understand the importance of not only taking care of others but also taking care of ourselves. If you feel that you or a loved one is struggling, contact our team at Minding Family Townsville to find out how we can provide further support.
Please contact us on 47238221 to discuss pathways for referral.