Become your child’s strongest advocate by staying informed and making the most of available resources. Connecting with specialists and caregivers will give you valuable insights and support. You’ll discover strength in the connections you make along the way.

Express your emotions openly rather than holding them in. It’s normal to feel conflicted, frustrated, or angry, and it’s okay to have mixed emotions. Try to direct your frustration toward the diagnosis itself rather than those around you. If you find that you and your partner are clashing over autism-related challenges, remember that this is a sensitive issue for both of you. Be careful not to take out your feelings on each other when it’s really the ASD diagnosis behind them.

Work to maintain balance in your life. Don’t let the ASD diagnosis dominate every moment. Spend quality time with your other children and your partner, and allow family moments that aren’t focused solely on the diagnosis. Ensuring that everyone feels supported and can experience happiness is essential, even amid the challenges.

Celebrate your child’s small victories. Cherish each accomplishment, however small, and focus on their unique strengths rather than comparing them to others. Love them for who they are, not for who they are expected to be.

Join Insight Therapy’s Family Power community to experience the power of connection. While you are the leader of your family, you don’t have to do it all alone. Form friendships with other parents of children with autism, as they understand your daily struggles. Being active in autism-related communities can be both empowering and uplifting. By getting involved, you support both your own well-being and that of your child.

Remember, you are not alone! Every family faces its own challenges, and yes, ASD is a big one. But if you look closer, almost every family has something difficult to deal with.

Be proud of your brother or sister. Learn to talk openly about ASD and feel comfortable explaining the condition to others. When you’re confident about the topic, others will feel more at ease too. If you feel embarrassed about your brother or sister, it can make your friends uncomfortable. By speaking openly with them about ASD, they’ll become more understanding. Remember that, just like with anyone, you might feel both love and frustration at times. It’s okay to feel your emotions. Sometimes it’s easier to manage them with the help of a professional counselor who is there for you. Love your brother or sister for who they are.

It’s perfectly okay to feel sad about having a sibling with ASD, but staying upset or angry for a long time won’t help. Your anger won’t change the situation, and it only makes you feel unhappier. Keep in mind that your parents might be feeling these emotions too.

Spend some one-on-one time with your parents. Doing things together as a family, both with and without your sibling, strengthens your bonds. It’s completely fine to want time to yourself. Having a family member with ASD can take a lot of time and attention, and you need to feel important too. Remember, even if your sibling didn’t have ASD, you would still need personal time with your parents.

Find an activity to do with your brother or sister. Building a connection through simple activities, like doing a puzzle together, can be very rewarding. Even if they are heavily affected, shared moments can create closeness and joy. They will appreciate these shared moments and greet you with a special smile.