Miriam Rachel, a Canadian mother, author, freelance writer, and host of The Expressive Mom Show, shares her personal journey and the difficult decision she made to give up her son with complex special needs.

Despite the initial judgment she may face, Miriam explains that her decision was not easy and was ultimately made for the benefit of everyone involved.

Miriam opens up about her struggles with depression and unprocessed trauma from her past, as well as her son's diagnosis of autism and severe ADHD.

She describes the lack of support she received from therapists and the pressure to "try harder" and keep working with her son despite her own mental health decline.

As the years went on, Miriam's burnout and depression worsened, and she realized she could no longer provide the intensive therapy her son needed.

After learning about a residential setting that could offer him 24/7 therapy, Miriam made the difficult decision to allow her son to live there permanently.

Since then, her son has made significant progress in his development, learning essential life skills and becoming more independent.

Miriam acknowledges that her decision may be seen as controversial, but she believes it was the best choice for her son's happiness and well-being.

Additionally, Miriam discusses her own personal growth, shedding her role as an "echoist" and finding her voice and self-worth.

She emphasizes the importance of prioritizing one's own needs and not succumbing to societal expectations of martyrdom. Miriam's decision has allowed her daughter to live her life without the burden of caring for her brother and has allowed Miriam to focus on her own mental health.

She recognizes that every family's situation is unique and encourages others to do what is best for their own families, regardless of societal standards. Miriam plans to address topics such as toxic positivity in future episodes of her show.

She hopes to provide support and insight for other parents navigating similar situations. Follow The Expressive Mom Show at http://expressivemom.com and follow on IG @anexpressivemom.

Post from Medium.com, I Gave Up My Special Needs Son…And It Was The Best Decision Ever.