How to Embrace Rest as Mothers of Autistic Children (feat. Renee Firth)

In this episode of Rough Edges, I am joined by Renee Firth, a mental health advocate and founder of ASD Mum Club, an online community dedicated to supporting mothers raising autistic children. Renee shares her personal mental health journey including experiencing PTSD, anxiety, and depression after a traumatic car accident and how she rebuilt her life by developing practical tools to manage and protect her mental well-being.

We get to discuss the importance of stepping back and reassessing life during overwhelming seasons and why prioritizing mental health is a strategic decision rather than a sign of weakness. Renee opens up about her experience as a mother to an autistic child, the mental and emotional toll caregiving can take, and how easily mothers can neglect themselves while trying to meet their child’s needs.

The conversation also explores the heart behind ASD Mum Club on why Renee created a calm, supportive space specifically for mothers, and how it helps them move from burnout and overwhelm to feeling more in control of their mental health. Renee also addresses common misconceptions about parenting autistic children, emphasizing that mothers deeply love their children and are not wishing for a different life, but rather need support to navigate the challenges.

In this episode, we cover: ● Renee’s mental health journey and recovery after PTSD ● The realities of parenting an autistic child ● How caregiving impacts a mother’s mental health ● The inspiration and mission behind ASD Mum Club ● Common misconceptions about autism and parenting autistic children Resources and links mentioned in this episode: ● Connect with Renee Firth on INSTAGRAM ! ● Find out more about the ASD Mum Club HERE on their website ● Leave a review ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ if anything in today’s episode resonated with you! ● Connect with us on Instagram! ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rough.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ) ● Connect with us on YouTube! ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@roughedgeswithsarah⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ) ● Connect with us on Facebook! ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rough.)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ● Follow us on TikTok! ( ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@roughedgeswithsarah⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ) ● Want to be a guest on our show? Send us an email at rough.@