When you hear that your child has been diagnosed with autism, the worst thoughts come to your mind. You can feel scared, lonely and overwhelmed. All of these feelings are natural when dealing with a new situation, but it doesn't have to be terrifying. There are many organizations and people to help along the way. During the process of coping with the diagnosis of autism, you may go through a mixture of feelings. Here is what to expect and the stages of dealing with the diagnosis.
Stage 1 - Denial: This is common and usually happens immediately after you hear the diagnosis. You could think not my child or the doctors have to be wrong. There is nothing wrong with getting a second opinion but if a second opinion confirms what has been told, don't keep dragging your child from doctor to doctor hoping for something different. It's important to move past this stage of the process because denying the existence of autism isn't going to help anyone, especially the child. The quicker parents accept the diagnosis of autism, the quicker treatment can begin.
Stage 2 - Anger: Getting angry is a natural human emotion. There are different ways to go through this anger. You can get mad at yourself, thinking you did something wrong. You can get angry at God, questioning why your child has autism. You may even get mad at other parents with healthy children, wondering why they don't have to deal with autism. The key when dealing with anger is speaking to someone about it. Speak to someone you trust. Your doctor might be able to refer you to a counselor who can help with these issues.
Stage 3 - Grief: Grief is a very strong emotion, but a natural one in dealing with bad news. Feeling sad is not a bad thing though, so you should never feel guilty about feeling heartbroken. However, don't let this emotion overwhelm you because you might transfer this onto your child who might blame themselves, thinking they did something wrong. Working past grief is important, but it's also a natural process. If you notice you are sitting in stage three too long or people around you think you have been grieving too long, seek the help of a counselor.
Stage 4 - Acceptance: It may have taken some time to get to this stage, but this is the end result in coping with the diagnosis of autism. At this point, you can finally move on with your children and get the best care. Your child is different and this isn't a bad thing, nor should you ever feel that way. Once you finally accept an autism diagnosis, you and your child can move on to have a happy life. Having autism doesn't change that.
Autism can be difficult to manage, especially depending on the severity of the case. There are services to help you, so you never have to feel overwhelmed. If you ever spend too long in any one of the first three stages, seek counseling because those specialized in these kind of cases will be able to help you move on. Not only is it important for parents to accept their child has autism for their own sake, but for the child's as well. The only way to really help your child is by accepting the course of their life.
