Mom of Special Needs child needs support!

While I admittedly know nothing about the challenges and joys of raising a special needs child, I am a mother of a teen and 3 toddlers. So, I can understand the exhaustion....

Stress eating is all about replacing. I am also a stress eater and have recently started chewing gum when I feel the urge to stress eat. Really seems to help...

Special needs children are exhausting, and it is not their fault. Not many people know the day to day struggles of life. I don't want to call it dealing with the issues, because I find it unfair to judge those children. I'm not a mother of a special needs child, but my younger brother is developmentally retarded, and has autism. It is rough, and I feel so very much for you I know it was emotional for me growing up, and it still is but I know it has to be much more emotional as a mommy. I still don't like talking about it with people, because now I get to listen to the people that I thought were accepting of him say that he creeps them out. =(

Anyway, that's not the point. haha, sorry...emo time.

You might feel as though you're being selfish, but you're not. You or any parent has to take care of themself, so in turn you can take care and be there as long as possible for your children! I wish you the best, and don't give up on you.

Hi, I'm 55 and live in one of the safer suburbs of earthquake ravaged Christchurch. I have 2 adult children, one of whom has severe anxiety and depression. He is 27 with the symptoms steadily getting worse since about the age of 14. I know what it's like to walk on eggshells, to say the wrong thing and hear about it, to be constantly watching out for signs of his depression worsening and then getting help. And I've finally realised that I throw food into my mouth when I'm stressed, when I'm frustrated and when I'm feeling blah! Thing is I'm now aware of it so I'm better able to control it and I'm getting there, after being a yo-yo dieter for the past 30 years. I would love to help and support you so have a think on it and if you would like to, add me as a friend.

My son has autism as well, feel free to add me if you would like support

Feel free to add me. I have high functioning autism and I might be able to help.

Please fee free to add me. I have a four year old with verbal apraxia of speech. He has made leaps and bounds, but it is still a challenge. It does make every day tasks a bit harder. I wish you the best and will offer nothing but positive support!!

Hi,

I understand. I have one child with special needs. He has Down syndrome and ADD. Anyone is welcome to add me.

Hi There....

Support is one thing you'll find PLENTY of here! My mom urged me to join MFP about three weeks ago and it has truly helped me be accountable and aware of the food I consume and how much I'm moving.

I'm a big sister of the most wonderful younger brother with severe mental retardation (or intellectual disability as they call it now). He has Fragile X Syndrome which is genetic and presents similar to Autism. He is now 25 years old, living in a group home, and loving his life more and more every day. He's done all the things they told us he would never do - have a job, write, work out, cook, and become toilet trained. He's an inspiration. Last year, he decided he wanted to lose weight. He is about 6' tall and was weighing in about 250 lbs. He has lost 50 lbs in a year and half and all on his own. If he can do it, so can we!

I know my mom dealt with a lot of the stress that having a young child with special needs can offer. She survived it all by trying to refocus herself on other things and reminding herself that food would only be a temporary fix.

We're here to help. Feel free to add if you'd like.

Good luck

My son has Down syndrome and I am a single mother (0 support from his dad or family on either side) so I definitely understand the challenges of raising a child with special needs. Feel free to add me!

I adopted my foster children 5 yrs ago with my husband who passed away 1 1/2 yrs ago. My adopted son has anxiety issues; ADHD and is high functioning, but on the spectrum. I always turned to food to get me thru until earlier this year when I developed pre-diabetes/metabolic syndrome and realized if I don't start taking care of myself, who will take care of my children?!

I have 3 adult children (33, 29 and 25) and my twin 6 1/2 yr old adopted children, plus a 14 yr old grandaughter and a 3 yr old grandson....I'm 52 and starting life over. I've lost 14 lbs within the past 5 weeks by working out at the park district (Largest Loser class...similar to Biggest Loser show) 2x week and see a personal trainer 2x week. Changed my way of eating after being diagnosed and lost 35 lbs since January.

It is difficult with a special needs child, but you need to realize that if you don't start taking care of yourself, who will be there for your child....that is what motivated me...feel free to friend me!