07/06/2026
- Case Study Example:
“Sarah”* is a single parent raising two neurodivergent boys while working part-time and managing a household entirely on her own.
From the outside, people often tell her:
“You’re so strong.”
“I don’t know how you do it.”
What they don’t see is the constant mental load underneath.
One child struggles with school refusal and anxiety. The other becomes overwhelmed by noise, transitions and changes in routine.
Most mornings begin with dysregulation before Sarah has even had time to drink coffee.
By 8am, she may already have:
* Managed sensory meltdowns
* Negotiated school attendance
* Packed safe foods
* Responded to messages from school
* Tried to regulate her own stress while getting ready for work
At work, Sarah masks her exhaustion and pushes through the day running on adrenaline.
At night, after the children are finally asleep, she often sits in silence feeling emotionally and physically depleted — knowing she has to wake up and do it all again tomorrow.
Without nearby family or practical support, survival mode became her “normal.”
To cope, Sarah began:
* Sleeping very little
* Watching TV into the late night
* Ignoring her own health needs
* Withdrawing socially
* Constantly multitasking
* Staying “busy” to avoid emotional overwhelm
Over time, the burnout became impossible to ignore.
Receiving support did not suddenly remove all the challenges.
But practical help, flexible understanding, neuro-affirming guidance and emotional support helped reduce the weight she had been carrying alone.
