Unlocking Resilience: How Moms of Autistics Can Nurture a Healthy Mind for Challenging Times

Thriving Moms of Autistics

Hi Moms! We are going to start this episode with some difficult truths, but it will end with some revelations about overcoming and embracing the future with hope and resilience.

It’s been a difficult few years for people all over the world. The pandemic has had such an impact on adults and children.

According to CDC, 48,183 people died by suicide in the United States in 2021. That is 1 death every 11 minutes.

During this time, 12.3 million adults had thoughts of suicide, 3.5 million adults made a plan, and 1.7 million attempted suicide.

I would imagine that we have all been affected by suicide in some way, especially as rates continue to increase. So why am I talking about this? Because it is important, and suicide doesn’t discriminate. It can take hold of anyone at any time.

In this episode, I explore why a healthy mind is more important now than ever and provide insights into how one’s mindset can turn things around in difficult times.

Find the full transcript for this episode at http://thrivingmomsofautistics.com/45

Please share the podcast with other moms to help them grow in their autism journey. You can also do this by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. I appreciate you!

Negative Influences on the Autism Mom’s Brain

We all know the stress that moms of autistic carry. We question ourselves if we are doing it right or if we are enough.

This is what I know about moms of autistics. We don’t give up! We are incredibly tenacious and gritty. That doesn’t mean that we don’t feel down at times. We are our greatest critics.

I’ve explored mindset in previous episodes. You can find them at https://thrivingmomsofautistics.com/category/growth-mindset/ or click directly on the link in the transcript for this episode. Or you can scroll down on the main page of the website and click on “growth mindset” under topics on the bottom of the page.

This past week, I lost another childhood friend far too soon. Although this topic is always in that back of my mind given the increased rates, it is also near to my heart.

The human mind is complex. There is so much we still don’t know about the mind. We do know that trauma can chemically impact the brain. On a positive note, we also know that the brain can be rewired.

Positive Influences on an Autism Mom’s Mind

Moms of autistics go through inevitable trauma in their journey. Getting the diagnosis impacts us all. We go through the stages of grief and experience emotions we might not have experienced before.

The scrutiny of others, who don’t understand autism and sending them into the school system for the first time are just a couple of examples of how we are impacted along the way.

Our brains are developing from the time we are in utero. Our brains change and develop throughout our lifetime. Through the process of neuroplasticity, the brain adapts to changes and rewires as a result.

Research suggests that there are many ways to rewire our brains through rehabilitation, exercise, music, art, and much more.

When we experience depression and difficulties in life as human beings, we often fall into negative thought patterns. Some stay in these thought processes longer than others. We are all different.

I often talk about awareness and believe it is the key to transitioning out of negativity. One cannot change something if one is not aware of its existence and impact.

When we are more mindful and in the present, we open ourselves up to gain awareness of our current situation. Mindfulness has many benefits, such as improving mood and attention span and lowering stress and chronic pain.

Two Ways to Rewire Your Brain as a Mom of an Autistic

Rew