To be a parent in itself is stressful. Just having to go shopping, doing the homework and some other parental responsibilities is enough stress. But stress is heightened when you will need to cater for a child with special needs. A special needs child such as mentally retarded child, an autistic child or one who is physically handicapped, will not only stress the parent, but other members of the family.



A special needs child causes stress for the rest of the children in so many ways. Though some of the sisters or brothers of the special needs child may not experience any form of stress, but parent should watch out for possible symptoms of stress in their children. Such stress ranges from embarrassment from peers to frustration from not been able to relate normally with their siblings.

Children may begin to get stress from being vehemently defensive of their siblings and feeling disappointed for not been able to relate well with their brother or sister with a special need. Other stressors could be counterproductive emanating from envy and feeling of been less special. Since the parent will have to concentrate more and give more time to the special need child, that will mean less time for the other children.

Other children get stressed up due to worry for their parents. They know the parents are going through stress caring for the special needs child. They fear what may become of their parents if the stress becomes most difficult. They wonder what will become of them in the absence of their parents, especially when there are no close members of the extended family and the fact that catering for the special need child may become their responsibility in the near future.

How then can stress caused by a special needs child be reduced? Well, parents can begin by facing the fact that the duty to cater for such child is not theirs alone, and could be too much to bear if they try to tend the situation alone. Therefore they could get an outside hand. And parent should ensure they are not completely separated as a result of this condition. They should create time, no matter how little the time. This will enable you reduce stress and feel renewed.

Parents should also find time to spend with other children to reduce stress borne out of envy. The use of special gift for one another, that is for parent and for children who devote their time in caring for the special need child, is another form of stress reliever. A child who carter for his or her special needs brother or sister could be rewarded for such sacrifices.

The entire family could also take out time together, go to some park, visit some sight seeing location, dinning out doors while the special needs child is left in a capable hand to take care of. Find quality time, no matter how little and be with other members of the family and this will go a long way in reducing or relieving stress.