Emotions & Relationships

There are many ways to deal with the emotions you feel after your child’s diagnosis. What works for one person may not work for another. It is important to identify ways to manage your emotions and stress in ways that are healthy for you.

The following are parent recommendations:

• Educate yourself as much as possible. Find reliable information about your child’s condition. This will help you to ask better questions and seek the best care for your child. (See the section on Getting Help & Information)
• Find support. Family and friends may be a source of comfort and healing. Try to keep in touch with people, even if it’s hard at times. You may need to seek out new sources of support. Connecting with other families who have similar circumstances might help.
• You may find that you enjoy and take comfort in activities you do by yourself. Running or other exercise, gardening, fishing, meditating, crafts, reading, and journaling are all examples of healthy outlets.
• Take care of yourself. Pay attention to your physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Keep your medical and dental appointments, especially for preventive care. While it may seem less important than your child’s medical appointments, you need to maintain your own health along the way to avoid the added stress of getting sick.
• Try to establish routines that are familiar and comforting for yourself and others in the home. Make time for yourself to relax and continue to do activities you find enjoyable. This can be especially difficult, but it may help you avoid a crisis later.
• It is okay to ask for and accept help. You may feel that you must do everything, and it is your responsibility. You do not have to do it alone. Make a list of specific things friends, neighbors, and family can do to help. For example, they might help with cooking a meal or running an errand for you.

It is better to think of it as a marathon, not a sprint. Life may have changed drastically for your family. You may feel a sense of urgency to do everything at once. You will need to pace yourself. Prioritize what is most important in your life. It is okay to slow down and take a deep breath occasionally.