Fatigue Assessment Tips For Parents Of Special Needs Children
This article contains information for parents of special needs children who wish to assess their fatigue levels and plan a course of action for treating or eliminating causes.
Many parents of children who have special needs feel daily fatigue, either mentally or physically, but with a busy schedule to navigate, it can be challenging to find ways to prevent it. The first step is to find the underlying causes for those feelings and look for ways to alter your lifestyle or activities in order to make positive change. For instance, you might seek therapy services for anxiety, or start a self-care routine that allows you to focus on your needs during the week. If you’re coping with stress, you might consider Craniosacral therapy as part of a beneficial routine. This therapeutic form of bodywork provides gentle release to the tissue surrounding your brain, spinal cord, and internal organs, releasing physical and emotional tension so you’ll be free to be the best version of yourself. Head to Quietspring.com for info on how to book an appointment.
Here are a few questions to ask yourself in order to assess your fatigue levels:
● What is your level of parenting satisfaction? Do you feel you could benefit from outside support, such as an online group for parents who share tips and resources with one another?
● What is your level of physical activity? Are you able to make time during a given day to get moving?
● How well do you sleep? There are several ways to boost your rest routine, starting with creating a sleep-conducive environment.
Create a self-care plan
Whether your self-analysis shows a need for better sleep, more activity, or more support from friends and loved ones, there are some things you can do to tackle those issues. Create a self-care plan that focuses on the areas you’d like to work on, such as adding physical activity to your daily routine or ensuring that you’re preparing your body and mind for rest each night by putting away devices. Talk to your spouse or partner, family members, and friends about your needs, since without good communication they won’t know how to help.
Keep in mind, as well, that once you target your needs it’s important to make sure your treatment plan is adequate. If you suffer from overwhelming anxiety or panic attacks, for example, a self-care routine won’t be enough on its own as you’ll need to seek assistance from a therapist or counselor.
Set some goals
Once you have an idea of where to begin when it comes to focusing on your immediate needs, start setting some goals. What are your long-term needs? If you aren’t satisfied within your career, or if your caregiving tasks require more time than your current job allows for, consider going back to school. With online courses from an accredited institution, you can work at your own pace and start on a career path that makes you happy.
Make some lifestyle changes
Along with creating a self-care plan and putting some goals into place, you might also consider making some lifestyle changes that will help you navigate caregiving, taking care of your responsibilities at home, and maintaining relationships more easily. These changes might include eating a better diet and staying hydrated, breaking habits that contribute to anxiety or health issues (such as smoking), or arranging for remote work so you can have a more flexible schedule. Think about the major contributors to your fatigue and which changes will make the most impact.
Battling mental or physical fatigue can be overwhelming without a support system, so talk to your doctor and loved ones about your needs, or seek out an online support group where you can interact with others who understand what you’re feeling. Staying social is another great way to practice self-care, especially if you spend a lot of time at home with your child.
Questions about the Craniosacral therapy services offered at Quiet Spring? Get in touch, or use the online scheduling tool to book a visit.
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