Injustice, Autism, and Coping with Stress

No matter how much we love our children, siblings, or spouses with autism, there are moments when we feel that life has treated us unfairly.

For some parents, the sense of injustice comes from feeling stretched to the breaking point with a non-verbal child - while neighbors complain that their children are just too popular. It's hard to feel sympathy when the Mom next door explains that Johnny's been invited to THREE parties this weekend, and Janey has to balance soccer AND ballet.

For others, it's a feeling that the world has been set up specifically to exclude you and your loved one with autism. How often have you heard that "it's just not fair to the other children to include your child in ___?" Or been told "I'm sorry, but our school/program/league just isn't set up to support children (or adults) with his particular issues."

The injustice is not an illusion. You ARE coping with conditions that are difficult for some, and overwhelming for others. But autism is here to stay, and by brooding too much on the injustice of our situations, we can undermine our own energy, health, and well-being.

Elizabeth Scott, the About.com Guide to Stress, has written a couple of articles that hit home for me. I'm hoping they may be helpful for you:

How Rumination Affects Your Life: Have you ever been stressed all day because you can’t stop thinking of something unfair that happened that morning? Or the previous week? This human tendency to obsess, trying to work things out in one's mind, is common. When these thoughts turn more negative and brooding, that's known as rumination. Learn more about how it can affect you.

Tips for Letting Go of Stress and Anger Letting go of anger and stresses from the past is easier said than done. Learn proven techniques for letting go and living in a freer place.

How have frustration, anger or stress affected your life? Have you found (legal) techniques for managing your feelings and moving forward?