Being quarantined at home for two weeks is a daunting thought for most, but the restrictions take on a whole other meaning for those with special needs and their loved ones.

One Cloverdale mom whose family is finding ways to cope after returning from a trip to Florida, acknowledged the exercise is important in helping prevent the spread of COVID-19, in the event one of them picked up the virus while they were away.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e all symptom-free 香蕉视频直播� so far,香蕉视频直播� Christine Williamson said Monday, of herself, husband Chad, daughters Jennah and Mikayla and her in-laws. 香蕉视频直播淲e just want to make sure we香蕉视频直播檙e not a part of the problem, and we want to stay safe.香蕉视频直播�

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Still, the impact COVID-19 has had on the routines and therapies that Mikayla needs to help manage daily life as a person with autism and other diagnoses has been severe.

In short, 香蕉视频直播渋t香蕉视频直播檚 crisis mode,香蕉视频直播� said Williamson, noting the sentiment is one shared by many families who have special needs children.

And, the quarantine 香蕉视频直播� which, for the Williamsons, ends Monday (April 6) 香蕉视频直播� has only exacerbated it.

Usually, workers and therapists are in and out of the Williamson family home every weekday, helping 18-year-old Mikayla with everything from managing her behaviours to schoolwork. But now, 香蕉视频直播渟he has none of that,香蕉视频直播� her mom said.

香蕉视频直播淔or kids on the autism spectrum, routine is everything,香蕉视频直播� Williamson said, describing her daughter as 香蕉视频直播渜uirky and funny,香蕉视频直播� with a love of reptiles and swimming, and a knack for the artistic.

香蕉视频直播淓verything that they do is regimented. It香蕉视频直播檚 how they have order in their life. And so she has none of that. On top of that, we香蕉视频直播檙e now quarantined. We can香蕉视频直播檛 go to the park, we can香蕉视频直播檛 do anything.香蕉视频直播�

To make matters worse, 香蕉视频直播渂ecause we don香蕉视频直播檛 have answers, we can香蕉视频直播檛 calm her fear and anxiety of it.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淗er meltdowns are worse and more frequent. Her level of being able to cope is not there.香蕉视频直播�

No stranger to struggles, however 香蕉视频直播� the family has weathered everything from layoffs to Williamson香蕉视频直播檚 own battles with mental illness over the past two decades 香蕉视频直播� Williamson said an important way that she and her family have learned to cope is to focus on what they can control, rather than what they can香蕉视频直播檛. Things like the 香蕉视频直播渢hermostat香蕉视频直播� in their home 香蕉视频直播� and not the one that controls the actual temperature.

They香蕉视频直播檝e set up 香蕉视频直播榥o-judgment zones香蕉视频直播� where as a family they can say whatever they need to without fear of judgment or reprisal, and then together, work on coming up with two positives out of whatever was said.

Recognizing the impact of limited space in the home on each occupant has also been important, Williamson said; honouring expressed needs for time to themselves, 香蕉视频直播渆ven if we might be put out for a bit.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淛ust a lot of things like that 香蕉视频直播� being willing to be vulnerable and to speak what it is that we香蕉视频直播檙e feeling in any given moment香蕉视频直播� feel what we need to feel and then move on from that.香蕉视频直播�

They香蕉视频直播檙e skills that can be applied to anybody, she noted, giving credit to Emotions BC Health and Wellness Society, an organization that formed in 2018 香蕉视频直播渢o provide and deliver programs and services to families and caregivers of loved ones dealing with emotion dysregulation caused by diagnosed or undiagnosed mental health challenges.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淓motionsBC was created to eliminate barriers and to enhance health and wellness for loved ones struggling with mental health challenges as well as families 香蕉视频直播� and therefore, potentially and quite literally, saving lives,香蕉视频直播� an introduction on the society香蕉视频直播檚 website states.

Williamson said the society helped their family 香蕉视频直播渋n some of our darkest moments,香蕉视频直播� and a desire to return the favour by being a beacon of hope for others drove her and her husband to become involved not just as program participants but also as facilitators of some of the programs. Williamson also now holds the role of administrative assistant.

In these days of social distancing, self-isolation and quarantine, supports are having to be given and accessed in different ways, many of them online. For Mikayla, that means connecting with her therapy team through such avenues as Zoom, with her mom at her side to guide her 香蕉视频直播� though the sessions are a far cry from the support she gained through her one-on-one therapies.

Williamson said it doesn香蕉视频直播檛 take a grand gesture to assist families that are struggling 香蕉视频直播� it can be as simple as offering to add a couple extra items to their own grocery list. Neighbours can also share a tea 香蕉视频直播渄ate香蕉视频直播� from the safety of their respective porches, just to check in.

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香蕉视频直播淧ractical things like that go a long way to break the isolation,香蕉视频直播� she said.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e used to isolation, but this is different,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淎nd because there香蕉视频直播檚 so much more fear and concern, and there香蕉视频直播檚 no end in sight, there香蕉视频直播檚 no game plan. Everyone香蕉视频直播檚 affected on such a deeper, bigger level, that the sense of community, to me, means that you香蕉视频直播檙e really checking in on people and giving them a space香蕉视频直播� to share how they香蕉视频直播檙e really feeling and what they香蕉视频直播檙e really thinking.香蕉视频直播�

Williamson said she also feels 香蕉视频直播渟lightly strongly香蕉视频直播� about those who aren香蕉视频直播檛 taking social-distancing and other recommended or ordered preventative measures seriously.

Acknowledging that she was among those who initially doubted the seriousness of the pandemic, Williamson said her mind changed when she realized how quickly it was spreading and how vulnerable Mikayla was.

香蕉视频直播淏ecause of all the struggles my daughter has, I am concerned for her safety,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淪he puts her hands in her mouth all the time.

香蕉视频直播淚 feel that if people could understand that because we don香蕉视频直播檛 know what we香蕉视频直播檙e dealing with, there isn香蕉视频直播檛 a defense for it. If we could just take a step back香蕉视频直播� just re-prioritize a little bit, we have a chance to save thousands of lives.香蕉视频直播�

Williamson said shifting her own mindset around the quarantine from one of 香蕉视频直播渇eeling like the walls are closing in on me,香蕉视频直播� to one that looks at abiding by the measures as a gift was an important step for her on Sunday; the halfway point.

As difficult as the journey is and will continue to be for an undetermined time, however, she said she is confident there are brighter days ahead.

香蕉视频直播淲hen I look at the virus, in and of itself, I feel that we have a lot of skills and resiliency,香蕉视频直播� she said.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 not that there aren香蕉视频直播檛 tears and concerns and unknowns. We have already weathered so many storms香蕉视频直播� you always find a way to rebuild from the ashes of what you香蕉视频直播檝e gone through.香蕉视频直播�

Online resources Williamson suggested include the Emotions BC website, at (for families, caregivers and loved ones), and and (for programs, training and supports for individuals as well as families).

tholmes@peacearchnews.com
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