Join Erin and me today as we talk about isolation in moms of children with disabilities. We discuss the struggles of becoming isolated, how to prevent isolation, or how to pull out of it if you are already in it.
Don’t forget to pick up your freebie: The Isolation Prevention Guide
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Listen to the show:
Notes from the show:
- Erin’s post: Are Special Needs Families Isolated?
- Erin shares where she was at feeling isolated. “Getting together with other people, I can’t do that, my kids have to have yes on them at all times. When kids are involved I do’;t have time to relax and talk to people, especially if it is i someone else’s house. It is easier at my house, but is my house clean? Do I have something to feed them? Often times I feel it’s not worth it.”
- There are challenges about not being able to go somewhere and fully participate, or inviting people to your home where it feels like work.
- As a special needs parent, you have to think about every single detail.
- Sometimes you feel isolated because it seems as if people don’t notice when you are missing.
- Sometimes it is easier to look at what other people are not doing right, rather than recognizing there is something we can do.
- Isolation can happen even in conversations, because our life can be pretty different that it makes us feel we have little in common with others. You can be around people and feel alone.
- Birthday parties can be hard. Are our kids invited? Does anyone show up at our kids’ birthday parties? Friendships are harder for our kids because of disability and because of disability attitudes from other people.
- Most moms with younger kids feel isolated, when you add disability to the mix, sometimes it feels like you do not move out of that isolation mode. So much is about children activities, and when our kids cannot participate it isolates us.
- We have a role to play and we can initiate.
- We are tired and have enough to worry about. But sometimes, when a friendship is worth it, people need to be chased a little bit.
- As you try and try, you learn together how to work as a family. You figure out new ways trying to make things work. Eventually, it can become a positive experience. But if we don’t try again, we will never get to that place. Even when trying is hard, you have to be willing to put the energy and effort.
- In order to participate in life sometimes you need to put yourself out there.
- Our spouse is supposed to be our best friend. Marriage is our most intimate connection, investing in the marriage helps us have that strong bond. If the marriage is not doing well, it can lead to the greatest isolation, where even within your own home you feel isolated.
Recommended Resources:
For mental health illness, there is NAMI (national Alliance on Mental Illness).
Joni and Friends family retreats.
If you struggle with depression (or anxiety), finding a counselor can be incredibly helpful, here are two resources to help you find someone in your area as well as a helpful article from Family Life.
Counseling Services and Referrals from Focus on the Family
The Christian Counselors Network
Article: Beating Depression as a Stay-at-Home Mom
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