Finding Hope During Hard Days: A Message for Autism Mums in Difficult Seasons
- Help You Cope
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Struggling through a difficult season with your autistic child? One autism mum's honest story about challenging behaviours, seeking help, and finding light at the end of hard days.
Light at the End of the Hard Days
Recently, I went through a really hard season with Mr J. It wasn't just a bad day here or there, it was ongoing, stretching out for over three weeks, and it felt never-ending.
His challenging behaviour escalated, he wasn't eating properly, he didn't want to shower, and my worry for his health just kept piling up. When you're in the thick of something like that as an autism carer, it feels impossible to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
No matter what anyone tells you, or even what hope you try to hold on to, it can feel like the struggle will never end.
When Autism Caregiving Gets Overwhelming
And to be honest, it can get the better of you.
I found myself sinking into that heavy place where giving up feels easier than pushing through. Hope slips away so quickly when exhaustion takes over. For autism mums and carers, these difficult seasons can push us to our absolute limits.
The constant worry, the challenging behaviours, the impact on daily routines, it all compounds until you feel like you're drowning.
The Turning Point: Admitting I Needed Help
In that season, I reached a point where I realised: I think I need professional help.
Even just admitting that to myself was really hard. As autism parents, we often feel like we should be able to handle everything, that asking for help means we're failing somehow.
But strangely enough, that was the turning point.
Because as I mentioned that, things slowly began to shift. Mr J did improve. The behaviours started to ease. The weight of it all began to lift.
What I've Learned About Hard Seasons with Autistic Children
What I've learned is this: every time we face a season like this, it feels harder than the last, longer than the last, or just completely different from before.
And yet we always get through it.
Even when it feels endless, it never lasts forever. That truth is so important to remember, especially in the darkest days of autism caregiving.
These challenging periods with our autistic children aren't permanent states, they're seasons. Some are short, some feel impossibly long, but they all eventually change.
You're Not Alone in This Journey
If you're in that place right now dealing with difficult behaviours, feeling overwhelmed, questioning if you can keep going please know you're not alone.
It's okay to seek help, whether that's from family, friends, or professionals. It's okay to say, "This is too much for me right now."
Because the truth is, it's a season. Whether short or long, it is still a season. And seasons do change.
Signs It Might Be Time to Seek Support:
You're feeling hopeless or unable to see things improving
The stress is affecting your physical or mental health
You're isolating yourself from others
You're struggling to cope with daily tasks
You feel like giving up
Asking for help isn't weakness, it's wisdom. It's recognising that you deserve support through the hard seasons, just like your child does.
There Really Is Light at the End
There really is a light at the end of the hard days.
And no matter how impossible it feels in the moment, you will get through it because you always have, and you always do.
You're stronger than you realise. You've survived every hard season before this one. And while this one might feel different or heavier, you'll get through this too.
To every autism mum reading this while in the thick of a hard season: I see you. Your struggle is real. Your exhaustion is valid. And your strength, even when you can't feel it, is remarkable.
Find Support for Your Journey
If you're going through a difficult season and need support from
people who truly understand autism caregiving, Help You Cope is here for you. Connect with other autism mums and carers, access resources, and find hope through our support groups and wellbeing programs.
Visit www.helpyoucope.com.au for support
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