In this episode of The Autism Mom Coach Podcast, Lisa Candera sits down with therapist and Autism Blueprint host Janine Hershkowitz, LMHC for an honest conversation about the intersection of autism and maternal mental health.
Janinemom of two autistic young adults and a psychotherapist with over 15 years of experienceshares how constant stress, high-alert living, and unprocessed trauma shape the nervous systems of autism parents. Together, Lisa and Janine discuss what healing can look like, how to create boundaries without guilt, and why sustainable self-maintenance is essential for both parent and child.
This episode is part one of a two-part series on Autism and Mental Health.
In This Episode:
- How chronic high-alert living impacts the body and mind of autism moms
- What trauma looks like in parents of autistic childrenand how EMDR can help
- Why guilt often masquerades as responsibility
- How to shift from fixing your child to leading your household with steadiness
- Real-life boundary work that protects both parent and relationship
Key Takeaways:
- Regulation first. You cant pour from an empty nervous system.
- Behavior is information. Over-functioning hides data about your childs needs.
- Boundaries are leadership. Clear limits protect your energy and your childs stability.
- Guilt is a false alarm. Learn to tell the difference between true accountability and internalized pressure to always better. Sustainable support beats constant doing.
Connect with Janeen: https://autismblueprint.com
