What happens when break time doesn’t happen? Burnout. No matter how much you love your child, there will be a day when your batteries just quit. Single parents, and couples who have a very unbalanced system of sharing responsibility for their child with a severe disability, are at high risk.

Anyone who’s ever had a horrible job knows the symptoms of impending burnout. You start feeling hopeless, numb, resentful, and angry, all at the same time. You may get physically ill, suffering from an increase in headaches, stomachaches, bowel complaints, and fatigue. You start fantasizing about running away.

Sadly, some parents really do run away–away from their share of responsibilities, away from their marriage, even away from their child.

Don’t let this happen to you or your partner. It’s okay to say that you’re overwhelmed. Only then can you look for a way to remedy the situation. If you have trouble doing it on your own, a good family counselor can help you set up a schedule that gives you some time off to clear your head, take a class, or just enjoy a quiet cup of tea or a game of golf. Usually it doesn’t take much to lift the burden of your day-in, day-out duties–but you do have to ask.

Some parents deal with feelings of guilt, embarrassment, and shame with denial. These feelings are anything but easy to work out–particularly for men (or women) who have trouble articulating their emotions. A little understanding can go a long way.

Single parents, and couples who want their time off to be time together, should access respite-care services if they are available. Respite providers are trained to care for disabled youth and adults for the afternoon, overnight, or even during a family vacation.

Respite care may be available at no or low cost through community agencies, public or private. A county caseworker or local disability organization should be able to put you in touch with respite resources in your area.

If you have the financial resources, of course, you could hire someone with appropriate training to provide respite services in your home on occasion. If a nearby college has a special education degree program, students may be able to earn extra credit and gain valuable experience, as well as earning some money, by caring for your child

Summer day-camp programs, overnight camps, “parents’ night out” programs, and other options are also available for giving yourself some much-needed time off. It’s not a selfish thing to do at all; in fact, avoiding burnout is an essential part of being a good parent for a child with severe disabilities. The sanity you save may be your own!