"Replace fear-based thinking with love-based thinking. Every time you're making a choice, ask yourself if it's going to cultivate the experience of unity and love or the experience of separation and stress." – Deepak Chopra

We all experience fear. When it comes to caring for a child with autism, fear can manifest in many ways. Sometimes our initial diagnosis gives us fears about our quality of life. Dealing with the realities of our "new normal," with autism can put us in a chronically fearful state of mind. Will my child endure a rude comment today? Will I be able to care for my child and attend my daily tasks stress-free? Fear about outcomes that are beyond our control can facilitate fear taking root.

"I finally came to realize that my fears about my child having autism and what that could potentially mean were ADDING to my stress. Once I consciously decided to relieve myself of that burden I could better focus on managing my child's autism." – Member of MyAutismTeam

Here are recent conversations from MyAutismTeam members:

• "Today we got a call from the Marcus Autism Center. We are now awaiting the call to schedule his spectrum evaluation. Mixed emotions, ready to know his evaluation outcome, scared of the news, but ready to start whatever steps are needed to ensure our little guy is getting what he needs. Hugs to the moms out there."
• "This fall my 10-year-old goes into middle school. I'm worried. Parents of middle school kids--how was their transition?"
• "Sibling of autistic individuals: I am worried about starting my own family. How do you deal with your fears/concerns?"

Dealing with fear will look different for everyone. Sometimes it means arguing with our intrusive thoughts. Sometimes it looks like meditating to clear the mind.

How do you stop fear from taking over? Join the conversation below.