Sometimes it is not easy to give an honest answer to “How are things?” There may not be enough time. Or enough trust that the other person wants to hear the difficult parts too.

As a mother of neurodivergent children, I know an everyday life in which many questions remain. This experience is why I started begleitet. It is also why our self-help group matters so much to me.

You do not have to make everything sound positive

You can love your child and feel exhausted at the same time. You can feel sad, angry about a situation or unsure about the next step. For me, talking about these feelings does not mean loving your child any less.

I want a place where we can be honest about how we feel. Even when we do not yet have the right words, let alone a ready-made solution.

What I mean by a safe place

For me, safety here means treating each other with respect. Listening, without weighing one person’s experience against another’s. And knowing that nobody has to share anything simply because they are there.

For our meetings, we agree:

  • Personal stories stay within the group.
  • We do not make recordings or screenshots of meetings.
  • Everyone decides what they want to share. Listening is equally welcome.
  • Before giving advice, we ask whether it is wanted.

Trust grows through how we treat each other. We all contribute to this.

Sharing as equals

Our online self-help group is for parents and people who care for neurodivergent children to share lived experience. You are also welcome if you suspect neurodivergence and many things are still unclear.

We do not need to have had the same experiences to listen to each other. Sometimes a practical idea helps. Sometimes it helps to say a thought out loud at last. We do not promise ready-made solutions. The group does not replace therapy or medical advice.

When we meet

The online self-help group currently meets every Wednesday from 8 to 9 pm, Austrian local time. Participation is free.

You can find registration and access to each meeting on the self-help page of begleitet.

You do not need to find perfect words first. You do not even need to know what you need yet. You are welcome to be here.

Doris