I have written about finding out terrible news about your child’s health, now I am going to share some ideas on how to deal and cope with the news. Finding out that your child is ill, going to need numerous treatments for long extended periods of time (maybe even years), maybe surgery, or any other shocking news will leave you in a state of chaos. At first you try to swallow up all the things the doctors are throwing out there to you, digest it, and then try to process what your options are.
A few ways to deal with this is to possibly find out from a social worker at your hospital, your doctors office, or even on your own through the Internet as to where to find support. You may even consider sharing your issues with a friend, neighbor, or family member to find out they have suggestions to share as well. There are support groups you can attend to receive that group connection, where you can go, speak about what you are going through and listen to people who are having similar experiences – people you can share with, cry with, and become friends with. This allows you human contact, a nice way to find some comfort through a terrible ordeal.
You may want to find online support where there are groups you can attend right in your own home and chat with others dealing in similar situations on a broader scale. This can open you up to a larger pool of people to draw information and support from. It will give the person who may not be able to leave the home a chance to have the access to the same information and sharing without the added stress of going to the meeting.
The third way I can suggest to get some support is for you to visit a professional, either as a family or individual, to help with coping with the recent news. There is a pool of professionals you can go to with varying levels of expertise and different specialties, depending upon your comfort level and/or your individual situation.
Either way, these three suggestions can lead you to a healthier outlook for you and your family while going through whatever it is you are dealt. There are people out there willing to listen, suggest, and help – you just have to take the first step! Good luck!
