Preparing yourself emotionally for your child’s diagnosis is just as important as gathering information. The appointments, the forms, the waiting—it all takes energy. But the emotional side of this journey can feel even heavier, and it deserves just as much care.
When my son Matthew was diagnosed, I remember feeling two very strong emotions at the same time.
Relief… and fear.
Relief, because deep down I had known. I wasn’t imagining things. The struggles, the differences, the moments that felt harder than they “should” have been—they were real. And finally, someone else could see it too. There was a sense of validation in that, a quiet “I knew it” that brought a strange kind of peace.
But alongside that relief came fear.
Fear about his future.
Fear about how the world would treat him.
Fear of the unknown—of everything I didn’t yet understand.
And if I’m being honest, that mix of emotions stayed with me for a while.
The truth is, this process brings a wave of feelings—hope, anxiety, relief, worry—and sometimes they all come at once. You might feel strong one moment and overwhelmed the next. That doesn’t mean you’re not coping. It means you care.
You may find yourself caught between wanting answers and being afraid of what those answers might mean. That space is uncomfortable, but it’s also where growth begins.
One of the most important things I learned is this: a diagnosis isn’t an ending, and it isn’t something to fear. It’s a beginning. It’s a doorway into understanding your child more deeply—how they experience the world, what they need, and how you can support them in a way that truly helps.
You don’t have to carry this alone.
Talking to someone who understands—whether it’s a friend, a family member, or another parent on a similar path—can make such a difference. There’s comfort in being seen, in not having to explain everything, in simply being heard.
Emotional preparation isn’t about bracing for the worst. It’s about grounding yourself. It’s about allowing space for your feelings while also making room for hope.
Because alongside the fear, there is always something else waiting too—understanding, connection, and a deeper appreciation for who your child truly is.
Looking back now, that moment of diagnosis didn’t take anything away from Matthew.
If anything, it gave us a clearer way forward.
And that, in itself, is something to hold onto.
