Autism's Hidden Victims: The Parents
Your autistic child screams. His screams pierce eardrums and walls. Your neighbors shake their heads and shun you. They call the police and you suffer daily from an "overwhelming sense of powerlessness." Your own health suffers. If you are a parent of an autistic child, you know the feeling.
Recently Paul Nyhan, Seattle P-I Reporter, wrote "Parents are Autism's Hidden Victims." In the article, Paul recognized the plight of the parent with empathy and resources, unlike any other article I have read recently. As one of the members in my support group says "he gets it."
"Children have autism, but parents are often invisible casualties. Their child's disorder ricochets through their lives, breaking up marriages, draining bank accounts and robbing them of sleep. University of Washington researchers found these parents, among all with disabled children, suffer the highest levels of depression and anxiety symptoms, and parenting stress."
Paul's article goes on to cite work at the University of Washington Autism Center.
My life is full right now (translation: I am overwhelmed) but I promise that over the next week, I'll share more resources for parents with autistic children. In the meantime, read Paul's article for reassurance that you are not alone!!
