Building your own resilience is crucial. Caring for an aggressive child can be draining and triggering. Schedule regular self-care: a brief walk, a phone call with a friend, or five minutes of breathing exercises in a quiet room. If possible, arrange respite care or ask a trusted family member to step in for an afternoon. Keep a support network of fellow caregivers or professionals; sometimes just sharing a challenging episode can lighten your emotional load. When you feel rested and supported, you can respond more calmly and thoughtfully to aggression, modeling emotional regulation for your child.
