Just trying to prepare myself for next week. What happened after you received a dx? Did your outlook change? Did you get hooked up with support right away?

I feel like I am on pins and needles waiting but I don't understand why. I mean even with a dx that really doesn't tell me what my little guy will be like next year or in 10 years from now. It's the unknown and the future that I can't stop thinking about, but a dx isn't going to give me those answers at all is it?

Its normal to feel this way. No matter how much you have yourself prepared for the possible dx you are never really prepared to hear your child has Autism. The most important thing is to let yourself grieve over it. I found myself withdrawn for awhile and cried alot. Let yourself go through those feelings. Then dive in head first. Educate yourself as much as you can but do not let it consume you. People have always told me that even though your child has been dx its still the child you love. No having the dx does tell you what the future holds but it opens doors for treatment. We never know what the future will hold even for are typical children. I can tell you with the right intervention alot of children with ASD make alot of improvement. I know my little man has.

After Freddy's dx, every family member wanted to discuss it with me and tell me how autism was and this and that. Everyone just keeps trying to help me. IDK if your family will be the same or not, since everyone is different.
How I felt though, well... When they told me they were for sure going to test him, that moment was in my mind his diagnosis. It was a confirmation of my worst fears. So when I actually had the paper in my hand and went to the conference, the shock and majority of the sadness had already passed. Now I'm just working through things at my own pace. I enrolled Freddy in the IEP PreK and reading what I want when I want. He will be this way for the rest of his life. So I'm doing things my way. If you feel you need to read and research and soak up as much as you can, then do it! But if you just need to take time to mourn and grieve, do that too. It's hard to predict your own feelings. I thought I would cry, but I really didn't.

And really, if anything, having a dx has helped us. It gives me more reasons to be patient. It gives me more reasons to continue parenting the same way I have been b/c Freddy's outbursts and poor speech are not my fault. It helps others actually want to help me instead of being on my own (even if their help isn't entirely helpful...it's the thought) So I'll bet that having a secure dx will in a lot of ways be a relief for you. Anxiety is a natural thing before a big event/change. Even if you know exactly what is coming, it's still there. And you can't know how your guy will be like, but if you start now with trying to help him, he will probably be much improved 10 years from now. KWIM?

Good luck and KUP please!!

Before we had his diagnosis, due to his delays, he had already qualified for and was receiving speech therapy, occupational therapy and attending early intervention preschool, and the diagnosis was expected, so nothing really changed in that respect except that it became official. Emotionally though, even though it was what I expected, and I thought I was prepared, I did grieve a little, and worry for his future.

I recommend this piece, Welcome to Holland, to everyone about to or newly receiving an ASD Dx. It really hit home with me.

Th Dx is just the beginning of your journey! Once you have the DX you have a bigger window open up for help. OUr daughter was dx before our county started the state HMO so her services have never changed. But my son we couldnt get the help we needed for him until we got the dx and had SSI reconize him as disabled.
Crissy- that poem is the best I never found one to describe the feelings I have like that one!!!

I want to tell you about my little girl veroniqua because you are worried about the future like I was and I think this will help ease your feelings about this all..... When Veroniqua was dx with PDD/NOS in Feb 2005 (wow it seems so long ago) I knew nothing about autism, I knew noone who did. I wasnt a member of any support groups. I blamed myself I though she will go to a special school forever, never make to main stream schooling, she wont talk and she wont let me in... Her teacher the first year at the MRDD school told me Veroniqua will be fine she is smart and will do well and live a somewhat normal life. Honestly as much as I would like to tell you I believed her I didnt. Veroniqua did start to progress at first it wasnt speech and you really didnt see it. Her 2nd yr of school Veroniqua came home one day and our of the blue she said Mom Drink. Those two words made me cry.. I did i cried I am crying now because they were that porwerful because of all my doubt. Veroniqua has made amamzing progress. It was out of nowhere when it all began. In june 2008 Veroniqua decided to potty train herself. After 3 yrs of struggling with her she decided she was done being a baby and wanted to be a big girl. Veroniqua started Kindergarden in Aug. When they did her testing other than language she was typical in the things she knew other kindergardners did. Veroniqua was pulled out of the mainstream class for most of the day she is in the resource room. That little girl who started at the same level as everyone else minus the speech is now at 1/2 through the year done with Kindergarden and working on 1st and 2nd grade levels. She is reading, spelling, doing basic addition and subtraction she is making up her own sentences. These things amaze me I never thought I would be sitting here today with a child who is this amazing to me. To know her stuggles to know what she has been though how much she has had to over come it amazes me more and more. The pride you feel from watching your child go above expectations is unreal! I still dont know what the future holds for my son nor my daughter who are both on the spectrum. I do know that I have no doubts that they will do well in life and suceed in what they do. I also know that I will be there when the dont and need me and I am there to support them no matter what tomorrow brings. OT, ST and LOVE have been the keys to unlocking my amazing child and believe me you will understand to one day. I have been in your shoes I have 4 children and I dont know what the next 10 yrs hold for any of them but I do know that I am here to be their biggest fan, best friend and to help them get through anything they need me for. Autism made me a better person and most moms will tell you the same thing it teaches you things about yourself that you didnt know. Sorry my post is so long. I just want you to know dont let your child having ASD hold you back and keep you from pushing them to be the best. Push him more and he will suceed.