A parent’s mental wellness and health can often take a back seat to the physical and mental health of their children, especially when those children live with intellectual and developmental disorders (IDD). The mental wellness of parents and other caregivers of children with IDD is very important, both to the parents themselves and in turn, to the children that they care for. Studies show that parents of children with IDD are more likely to experience anxiety, depression, insomnia, and fatigue than others.
Parental mental health can have an effect on many aspects of a family’s life and wellbeing and taking steps to care for your own mental wellness as a parent can trickle down to every part of your life at home, work, and more. There are many healthy ways for parents to cope with mental health problems as well as to prevent issues from arising.
Practicing mindfulness
- Meditation and yoga
- Reading and quiet solo activities like painting or puzzles
- Walking and other light exercise
- Mantras and positive self-talk, try the mantra “I can only control myself”
- Get more examples of simple mindfulness practices here
Self-care habits
- Meet your own basic needs, focus on sleep, drinking enough water, and eating a balanced diet
- Get out and about – do activities that are just for yourself
- Nurture your relationships outside of your children’s needs, including with your spouse or partner
Support systems
- Ask for help from those around you! You may be surprised at how willing the people around you are to support you!
- Find a support network outside your family. There are countless support groups online for parents of children with all sorts of different abilities!
No matter how you take care of your mental wellness as a parent, taking care of it at all is so important! Tell us some of your favorite mental wellness tips to help out other parents!
