What next?
What to do after your child’s developmental, neurobiological, or mental health diagnosis Keep a notebook by the phone, call your health insurance company and allow yourself some time to grieve. Some ideas for coping—and thriving—after diagnosis. By Julie Kendrick
“I went
through two solid weeks of grieving, when I would sit on our porch and cry every single night,” says a west-Metro resident and mother of two boys, one of whom has been diagnosed as having Asperger’s syndrome, a developmental disorder that affects the ability to socialize and communicate effectively. ‘Mary’ (not her real name) says she still vividly remembers her reaction, 10 years ago, when her family began to face the reality of her son’s diagnosis. “I think I really needed to give myself that time to grieve,” she says. “But I have a very strong belief system, so my faith really helped get me through it.” Now, Mary says, she gets phone calls from friends and acquaintances, seeking her advice when a
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