When traveling by plane, every parent knows this important reminder, “In the event of an emergency, please put on your oxygen mask before assisting younger children”. As parents we understand and agree, but this reminder also applies to motherhood as a whole, and especially to those caring for special needs children. You need to learn to help yourself first before you can help your child, and you should not wait until there’s an emergency.

Research has found that some mothers of children with autism had physiological stress profiles similar to those of combat soldiers…