Caring for someone with special needs can be stressful. According toCaicedo (2014), "there are 11.2 million children with special health care needs in the United States or one in five households caring for a special needs child." Also, according to Colet (2013), "behavioral problems, psychological disorders and emotional needs of children were factors commonly associated with high levels of stress. Satisfaction with social support, satisfaction with the parental role, a good family rapport, an emotional bond between father/mother and child, spousal support and the sense of being an active participation in social life help reduce stress levels." Personally, I am still learning, especially as every new transition occurs and change to the routine is introduced. But how I try to deal with stress is fairly consistent: weekly date night with my husband, laughing (watching a funny movie or show), talking to someone I trust about my feelings, joining a social network such as Facebook or mother's group, walking or working out when I can, trying to not be so hard on myself (aiming for "good enough" not "perfect"), open to ideas on coping strategies, knowing when to ask for help and maintaining a hobby I enjoy (like writing for the SSSA). I usually sometimes will eat one too many cookies or grab that extra bowl of ice cream when I'm stressed. I have been working on reducing my overeating by using these steps (I actually have this hanging on my fridge): Tips on How to Stop Emotional Eating. Believe it or not, just being aware of what I was doing in reaction to stress was half the battle.

Maybe the whole idea or concept around stress management is to be aware of when you hit your limit, recognize your reaction and reach out for help. Perhaps someone you trust with your feelings may help decipher your stressors and assist in navigating through your own personal roadmap to managing them. Sometimes when you are busy raising a family, taking a moment to yourself is difficult. But as someone very wise told me once, "happy mommy/daddy/caregiver, happy family." I don't always succeed at managing stress perfectly (who's perfect, anyway?), but if I do most of the time, I feel I'm doing alright.

Here are some great tips here on how to combat stress: Tips for Families Living with Special Needs

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