7 SIMPLE WAYS TO SUPPORT SPECIAL NEEDS FAMILIES

BY JESS RONNE

Anger, guilt, anxiety, loneliness, stress and exhaustion. Pick a feeling and a special needs caregiver has experienced it, and not occasionally or seasonally. No, it's more likely experienced on a very consistent basis, if not a daily one.

I know I struggle with these emotions on a weekly basis. How could I not? I have 8 children and one of them is my 17-year-old son Lucas, who has profound needs and will require care for the rest of his life. His needs include incontinence, limited mobility, primarily non-verbal communication, and he requires assistance in every aspect of his life. I hardly know how to relax anymore or dare try to decompress (pick up a book?!) because the second I sit down and actually exhale, there will be another task beckoning me.

I've discovered that it's more difficult to rebound out of relaxation mode than to simply continue to move forward, head down, in stressed-out mode.

We could all use a helping hand from a friend, a stranger or a church parishioner, someone who gives us a tiny boost of hope when we need it the most, but special needs caregivers are in an exceptional category: exceptionally anxious, exceptionally lonely, exceptionally stressed, and exceptionally exhausted. Please be aware of these people in and around your life.