100 Ways To Destress | Autism PDD
Have a girls' night out! We just moved and our neighborhood does a "girls' night out" where we play bunco and relax and have a good ole' time! Alcohol is occasionally involved as well... The dads stay home and watch the kids. Mine lucks out as Bunco starts at 7:30 and our kids are already in bed!
By the way - wanted to add to some of the initial posters - my son was afraid of the vacuum and blender until the last few years - now he LOVES them! Your kids may change when you least expect it!
#37 Entering the 'here and now' - taking a deep breath, gaging the temperture, smelling the air, listening to the wind blow through the trees, enjoying whatever is blossoming, just enjoying creation!I went to the beach this afternoon with Quinn....we spent the time jumping the waves playing in the sand....he wanted me to bury him from head to neck and he loved it I also spent some time watching the waves crash into the stairs and ramp and watched Quinn run up and down as the waves came in. It was soo relaxingWay to go, Dad2Luke&Alan !!! Enter the dragon's lair and mingle in their environment !!! And YES, Autistics do see MORE than NT kids. They have always had an eye for detail. When we are at the park every Saturday morning... Daniel would always be fascinated with insects... not ants, but tiny spiders or even the flying bugs... He will go up close, even touching them...
Destress method #36: Enjoy observing your own ASD kid's interest evolve... (btw, I believe there are entomologists out there who are also autistics!! Anybody know them??)
[QUOTE=boobear]Destress method #36: Enjoy observing your own ASD kid's interest evolve... (btw, I believe there are entomologists out there who are also autistics!! Anybody know them??)
[/QUOTE]
No, sunflowers, my so HATES the blender too 
and vacuums and
hairdryers....I'm sure you know!
Here's one too
Give the kids the hose and take advantage of the free time.
"Give the kids the hose and take advantage of the free time."You guys all have some awesome ideas!
hpcmagic - I like the hose idea! In our house, putting on SpongeBob is a guaranteed way to get some ME time to do something like call a friend.
Here are twoAfter kids go to bed - get a nice movie and get a glass of Margarita
Lie with your kid on hammock- forget about all the things you should be doing - and drink some iced tea
#2 Make shakes! Most of our ASD kids LOVE the blender, so let them help as much as possible adding lots of yummy ingredients. In our house, it would be soy milk, non dairy ice cream, frozen strawberries, bananas, and serve them in a fun cup with straws. The kids will love it and you will be refreshed too.
front of the fan and read a book or flip through a magazine for 1/2 an hour.
I thought we could all use this since it is summer and we never get a break from the kiddos Lets try to come up with 100 ways to de-stress even if we CAN'T get a babysitter!
Don't ask me how we will do it, but let's try it. I will start:
1) Put in a favorite DVD for the kids, and then give yourself a "pedicure" in the bathroom with some relaxing music or favorite radio station playing! Pick up an exfoliator/ scrub and a favorite scented lotion, let your feet just soak in warm water in the bathtub and sit on a towel on the edge of the tub, then exfoliate & soak again, then pat dry and put on your favorite scented foot lotion! You can even leave the door open if you need to, or modify it by having your child sit on the floor of the bathroom with a toy and lock yourselves in the bathroom until you are done.
ok who is next?
I like to have a cup of coffee, go to the gym or walk the beach. Sometimes I like to go on sites like priceline and look at vacation deals.
One day a week I get a sitter for my little one,and have a KID FREE day.(9am-3pm)Of course I am a SAHM,so I can do this.
It gives me Energy to do the other 6 Days
Linda
Find local respite services. Keep looking. They are worth the search. All of us need totally kid-free time.
Plan to do something during that kid-free time that will force you to not think of kids because it will put something else into your brain.
Exercise -- without the kids! Get your spouse or someone else to watch the kids while you go to exercise class (trade for your spouse to have this, too). I choose Jazzercise because the exercise gives me joy plus the footwork FORCES me to concentrate or I'll trip! That way, autism cannot occupy my mind even when its not in my presence.
Remember -- stress kills! There is nothing more dangerous to your health than unrelenting stress. If we want to BE HERE for our kids as they grow older, we all have to learn to manage stress or we won't be around long enough.
Sex. I know, who has the time or energy? Or the desire? Well, sometimes we have to go through the motions first and then the desire comes. The profound feeling of relaxation and well-being that satisfying lovemaking can bring is a real stress reliever. Try to make time for this. And, remember, this advice is coming from a 57yo woman with a 60yo husband! If we can do it, you can do it.
I like that Tzoya!Really? Most ASD kids love the blender? My son seems terrified of it?Here's my contribution - after my so goes to bed I make something relaxing for myself. It could be green tea with honey, a bowl of my favorite soup or mashed potatoes, whatever comfort food you love. I put on my cozy slippers and put my feet up on the ottoman. And then I watch my favorite movie. I like old movies.
It's not a calorie-conscious idea but relaxing.
#13
WALK. When I get a free hour, I walk. I put my ipod on, and walk. Sometimes slow, sometimes fast. I do NOT allow myself to think about autism or the housework or supper or ANYTHING except the music, the weather around me, etc. It does nto matter if it is 40 degrees or 90 degrees, I walk. It really really helps.
When we go walking in a forest and stop to look at what my littlest one wants to look at, and go in the direction he wants to go, for a moment I can forget his diagnosis and have fun. From watching him, I am pretty sure that for a time his condition stops bothering him as well. Sure, there are no words, but sometimes they are not needed. Hand gestures work. And I think that what we call his being easily distracted means that he sees more than the NT do.
But this is only for the fleet of foot and the brave of heart. (Or else some high-tech kid retrieval gadgets.) Right now I am faster and smarter so it works out.
I have to throw in 2 things my hubby does to mellow out...
32~Paint, if the kids are around he has always gave them a brush and let them go to town even if its something hes been working on for months and it always looks good.
33~Jam, he can play/sing anything! He has two guitars, a mandolin, a banjo, drums, a harmonica, a tambourine, trumpet. Just like painting he gives each kid an instrument and they all jam! He even records them sometimes. Its awesome!
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#34 Having the TV all to myself(and not having to give in to Daniel) to watch my favourite sport, live. I love soccer and Liverpool in the English Premier League which is owned by Americans now, Tom Hanks & George Gillett. Anybody here know abt them?? #31 Garage Sales - getting respite ealy saturday morning and hitting the garage sales , taking your sweet time browsing! #25~put on some music and dance around the house with your kids. #26~snuggle in bed with your kids...sometimes if I can all 3 of em asleep at once i'll lay in between them all and watch them sleep. #27~take a short hike with or without the kids breath the fresh air and pick flowers. #28~thrift store are awesome! #29~I have to second SEX, my fav thing to do to get my mind off life!!OK lets see how about Meditation? I have been thinking of trying Meditation. I am a Christian, but I was going to just do some relaxation Meditating a few times during the day. Does anyone meditate?
My favorite moments in the day is the hours between 7-9 a.m. while the kids are still sleeping and I drink my huge mug of french vanilla coffee with cream & sugar and get on the computer. The kitty sleeps in my lap and I check and answer emails..google things, ebay stuff.. and come here:) It is so peaceful and quiet for a little while:) And...I love thrift stores...ALONE!
I'll have to settle for the other ideas ROTFL
Let's see - I like to rent a DVD series, like a complete TV series, and every once in a while, maybe about 4 times a year, the kids will go to my ex's for visitation weekend and I will spend all day in my pajamas watching the whole TV series LOL! I have done that with Everwood, Gilmore Girls, Star Trek The Next Generation, Arrested Development, Law & order, ect. and then I will work on my scrapbooking all day and lay all the supplies all around me on the floor in front of the TV so I can just sit in the middle and work without having kids running all around me. That is SO relaxing to me!
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