Autism Awareness — Caregiver Support

Articles

Apr 1

Providing support for someone on the autism spectrum can be a lifelong commitment. While high-functioning adults, or those who need less support in their daily lives, may be able to live on their own and provide for themselves, those diagnosed with severe ASD are typically unable to live on their own and may require assistance from a guardian their entire life. According to AutismSpeaks.org, “80% of adults with autism live at home and receive support from a family caregiver. Prior to 2013, autism spectrum disorder was classified into three categories: autistic disorder, Asperger’s syndrome, or pervasive developmental disorder/not otherwise specified. Since then, ASD is diagnosed using a 3-level system determined by the amount of support a patient needs.

According to Lane Regional Medical Center, these levels are defined as:

“ASD Level 1 - Level 1 ASD is currently the lowest classification. Those on this level will require some support to help with issues like inhibited social interaction and lack of organization and planning skills.
ASD Level 2 - In the mid-range of ASD is Level 2. At this level, individuals require substantial support and have problems that are more readily obvious to others. These issues may be trouble with verbal communication, having very restricted interests, and exhibiting frequent, repetitive behaviors.
ASD Level 3 - On the most severe end of the spectrum is Level 3 which requires very substantial support. Signs associated with both Level 1 and Level 2 are still present but are far more severe and accompanied by other complications as well. Individuals at this level will have limited ability to communicate and interact socially with others.”
AutismSpeaks.org

Difficulties Caregivers Commonly Face

The most common struggle caregivers of autism experience is stress, followed by depression, anxiety, strain on relationships, diminished physical health, and restrictions on activities. Vanderbilt University conducted a study involving 250 mothers of children with autism or other disabilities. They hosted two programs called Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Positive Adult Development (PAD), and randomly assigned the volunteers to each. The MBSR program was more physical, focusing on breathing, meditation, and gentle movement; whereas, the PAD program focused on cognition with positivity-enforcing exercises such as practicing gratitude. The mothers participated in peer-led, hour-and-a-half-long weekly sessions over a 4-month period. The conclusion at the end of the study showed that “both MBSR and PAD treatments led to significant reductions in stress, depression and anxiety and improved sleep and life satisfaction among participants, and mothers in both treatments also showed fewer dysfunctional parent-child interactions. While mothers in the MBSR treatment saw the greatest improvements, participants in both treatments continued to improve during follow-up, and improvements in other areas were sustained up to 6 months after treatment.” Knowing this, setting time aside to prioritize structured breathing through yoga or meditation could be a convenient way to reduce the stress brought on by caregiving.

Focusing on Balance

For some, keeping a daily, weekly, and monthly activities schedule can help balance life between personal and caregiving demands. Enrolling your child in a treatment plan can help support their needs while it gives you a small break to build self-care into your day. Not only will the treatment plan establish a routine for you both, but it will introduce you to a network of individuals who not only relate but can help. Building confidence in those around you who can step in to help when needed will give you peace of mind and a feeling of community. Finding someone to talk to can help provide strength during trying times. Support groups can be great resources to connect with others in a similar position.

Managing Stress

Oftentimes, stress can be attributed to an event that causes frustration, anger, or nervousness. Succumbing to stress can have an adverse effect on your mood, those around you, and if it isn’t addressed, your health. Building time into your day to decompress will have lasting benefits on your physical health and mental well-being. Understanding how to manage stress immediately will help you better handle the situation, providing clarity that leads to a solution. Common techniques to manage stress immediately are:

Taking slow, deep breaths will lower your heart rate and blood pressure.
Listening to meditative sounds will help pace your breathing and transport you to a more calming place.
Taking a walk will remove you from the situation, allowing you the space to reflect on your feelings while naturally reducing your stress through light exercise.
Get outside. Studies show 30 minutes of sunlight each day will stimulate serotonin production and lift your mood.
Give yourself a hand massage. Begin at the base of each finger and gently rub until you’ve reached the tip. Then apply pressure to the webbing between your index finger and thumb to reduce tightness. Lastly, use your thumb to apply pressure across your palm towards the base of each finger. Use this technique on both hands.
Reach for a piece of chewing gum. Chewing gum for a few minutes will lower cortisol levels and can reduce anxiety.
Keep dark chocolate on hand. A small square of dark chocolate will reduce cortisol, the stress hormone, and stabilize your metabolism.

At Tilton’s Therapy, we travel to you because we believe healing, recovery, and therapy are best done in the comfort of your home. We provide assistance with occupational therapy, helping you and/or your loved ones gain independence through anxiety and stress management techniques, time management, self-care routines, and home management. Support is only a click away, register here: Tilton's Therapy: Register a Patient.