When your child is born, you have all kinds of wonderful dreams about the great things that they are going to do in their lives. When you find out that your child has special needs, it doesn't change how much you adore your child, but it does change your dreams of the future. There is a grieving process when you find out about your child's diagnosis. You aren't mourning the child you have, you are mourning the hopes and dreams you had for your child. You will have new hopes and new dreams for your child, but mourning the might have beens is perfectly normal. Going through that whole process on your own can be difficult, especially when you are trying to deal with the challenges of your new reality. There are things that you can do to help yourself. 

Parent Support Group

One of the best resources you can find is a group of parents who has been right where you are. For one thing, those other parents will be able to tell you what parenting a child with that diagnosis is really like and will be able to give you tips on ways to help raise your child successfully. The parents in that group will also be able to understand how you are feeling. When other parents are talking about their child who is hitting all the milestones and your child isn't, it can be very difficult for you. The parents in the support group can sympathize with you. 

Counseling

Another thing that you can do to help yourself deal with the feelings of grief is to go see a counselor. When you see a counselor, you can get one-on-one therapy. No one but your counselor will hear what you have to say. That can make it easier for you to express what you are feeling, especially since your counselor won't judge you on your feelings. A counselor can also give you a set of coping skills that you can use. Those skills can help you when you are feeling down, or angry, or frustrated, or just overwhelmed. 

You love your child from the moment they are born. That will never change. They will always be your child. But, when they get a life-changing diagnosis, you will feel grief at the loss of the dreams that you had. That's just part of life. Support groups and counseling can help you come to grips with the changes in your life. 

To get counseling help, contact a company such as Park Center Inc.