Heading for a breakdown i think, advice please?

[NoMoreParades]

I'm a lp to a 3 year old DS who has autism and learning difficulties, he is functioning at the level of a child half his age or less but is the size of a 4/5 year old. I love him so much but to say I am struggling is an understatement, I feel like I'm on the edge of a breakdown, I'm so stressed, anxious and just completely overwhelmed. I know it's made worse by it being the summer holidays, I am just worried that one day I might snap and do something I regret, I've already felt very close to it, and my mental health is on a knife edge.
I know things will get better in the long run, but right now we need help desperately. Where should I turn? Should I ask for a carer's assessment to try and access respite? Will it matter that my ds doesn't yet get DLA (have forms looking at me atm)?
I've tried to ask family for help but all too busy and ds's Dad says the same. Thanks for any advice, just writing this down has helped.

what is your health visitor like? I think that would be where I would start in your position. explain (cry) where you are coming from, that you just don't know what to do and where can you go for help with filling in the DLA forms and getting a carers assessment done. YES you should have the assessment done but you do need advice about what is available.

Have you a friend you could ask to help you sit down and go through the forms if family are being useless? Or perhaps 2 friends. 1 could watch the children and the other sit down with you and make sure the relevant forms get completed?

This is the hardest time trying to get you head straight and out in place the things you need, filling out forms, finding support.

Use this cerebra guide to help you fill in the DLA form it really is a brilliant guide and made it much easier to do the forms (I confess it took me over 6 months to fill them out as I was just overwhelmed by everything)

Hi I have a dd2 who is 4 and has autism and some challenging behaviour , she is also big for her age . Do you have a portage worker , ld nurse or specialist health visitor? Is there any wAy the place that diagnosed your son could signpost you
For any help

I can also recommend the low functioning autism support thread , there are people on there who will be good at advising on respite

You need practical help and support. Go to gp show her your post if you can't face saying it. Get a friend - anyone - to do dla or see if orgs near you will do dla. Try homestart - they have agencies across the country that help families, they have a flexible remit. Tell them you are in crisis need urgent support can they help you do forms, apply for carers assessment dla respite anything else. They may know of local agencies that can help. Plus they can get a vol to help with household chores. Technically homestart don't provide childcare but my vol entertained child to let me sleep, plan, do housework and just cry. 2 hours a week for 6 months. As a lp you may find there's orgs that will provide you w a few hours childcare a week - you need a break, room to breathe, once you have that you will regroup. LA have emergency respite services - call them and say you are scared and at the end of what you can do.

And a big hug and honks.
This happened to me a few months ago. It was the scariest most awful thing I ever lived through - and u haven't had a sheltered life. I'm much better now I have proper support and help. I had nothing left in the tank and was losing emotional regulation - not good when you have a really challenging child.

I mean I haven't had a sheltered life - erm