Parenthood

Online autism groups can help you cope with your struggle of living with an autistic child, sibling, partner or parent. There are plenty of websites, blogs and chat rooms all over the net that are designed for the purpose of allowing autistic individuals and those who love and care for them, virtually meet online and share information and offer one another support.

The following are some of the benefits of joining online autism groups:

Meet others who are suffering too – There are millions of people all over the world who suffer from some form of autism. Therefore, one of the first aspects you will realize when you join an autism support group online is that you are far from alone. Uniting with others who understand your struggle can help you mentally and emotionally cope with your situation, and may even better your relationship with your autistic child, sibling, partner, or parent. As an additional bonus, support groups are another excellent way to make new friends.

Expand your knowledge – You may think you know everything there is about autism, but even if you've read every book going, learning about the experience of others is a whole other type of education. Moreover, many online autism groups talk about the latest autism news regarding studies involving the cause of the disorder, as well as news regarding the latest medical and alternative treatments. The more you know about autism, and the different approaches you can try to assist you in coping with the disorder, the better.

Help others cope – Sharing your stories, listening to others, and allowing other group members to vent frustrations is not only helpful to them, but also to you. Providing another person with knowledge and hope is a great feeling. Being part of a support group is about depending on one another. Therefore, don't be afraid to share your information and knowledge of autism with others. Even if you don't have the answers others are looking for, you can at least listen, empathize, and lend emotional support.

Keep reading to discover more reasons why you should join an Autism support group online and to sign up for the free newsletter that offers information and advice on recognizing and treating autism below.

How to find local groups

Aside from providing you with online autism forums, some websites may be able to help you locate an autism group you can become involved in that's close to your home. An example of a site that may be helpful is autismlink.com

Other great ways to find local groups in your area include:

 Conduct an online search with your city and "autism support group" as your keyword phrase (I.E. "sacramento autism support group"). Note: if your town or city doesn't return any results, try the name of the largest city that is close to you.

 Ask the health care provider who is familiar with your child's, partner's, etc. autism, for recommendations.

 Contact your city council and ask about local autism groups.

 Ask for referrals from other parents or a fellow online group member, if they know of any local groups in your area.

Autism can be difficult to deal with at times, and no one should ever suffer alone or in silence. Even if you don't have the time or the desire to join support groups in your area, it is worth considering joining online autism groups to help give you peace of mind.