3 Strategies Moms of Autistics Can Use to Manage Big Emotions Related to Changes in Their Support System

Thriving Moms of Autistics

Hi Moms! Life is ever changing. We go through seasons as we raise our children. Some seasons are better than others.

The same goes with our community. People come and go, which causes anxiety for autism moms. However, so many moms are completely isolated.

I recall being isolated before I built my supportive community. I had convinced myself I could do it all on my own. There was an incident where my son was discriminated against because he was autistic.

It was so so painful. I have gone through similar issues with my current support system intact. It’s still painful, but it lightens the load to know others around you get it and support you.

In this episode, I explore what happens when your supportive community changes and how to manage the emotional shift that goes with it.

Find the full transcript for this episode at https://thrivingmomsofautistics.com/100

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What Do Autism Moms Want from a Support System?

First I want to say that all moms have a supportive community. It’s just that our communities have different levels of support. The level of support makes a big difference.

For example, we were relatively isolated in the beginning, but we did have OT’s, speech therapists, BCBA’s. And as wonderful as they are, it wasn’t enough. Moms need more.

When moms of autistics find a community of others who get autism, they feel supported and thrive.

I devote an entire lesson to this in my upcoming course coming out soon because it is that important. But I also know some things from experience that I want to share today.

Support is something we all want, but it often feels impossible to have a supportive community.

We convince ourselves that we don’t need it because we endure a lot of judgment about our parenting choices, which comes from others with limited to no experience with autism.

Developing a support community can be done, but it is important to remember that we are all different. What works for one might not work for another.

Dealing with Big Emotions When an Autism Mom’s Support System Changes

A mom’s support system has multiple components, such as treatment teams, friends, family, educators, and other parents in groups for special needs parenting.

In past episodes, I have talked about how to build a community that shares your values and understands your needs. You can find these episodes under topics and Create Community at www.thrivingmomsofautistics.com.

I think it is important to remember that even when you build the community you’ve been longing for, life changes over time. People move away, they pass away, and sometimes you just lose touch for whatever reason.

Change is hard no matter the reason. Just like the seasons I was referring to at the beginning of the episode.

Our children deal with this often when treatment providers change jobs. It’s part of life. Sometimes, people change and they move on.

It is important to remember that there are others in the world that can fill the gap in our community. If you have built a community that fits your needs before, you can and will do it again.

In the meantime, you still must contend with the emotions related to your changing seasons. Sometimes, it feels like you are grieving a loss.

When I have those experiences, I think about w