Helping Your Preteen Cope with a Serious Medical Diagnosis

It doesn't have to be a catastrophic illness for it to be a Serious Medical Diagnosis to a preteen. Preteens and early teenagers are living in, probably the hardest part of their formative years; and anything that sets them apart from their peers is serious, and should be seen as such. There is so much about our preteen to love and enjoy life. Life has become fresh and new again, when we see it through their eyes. When they receive what they consider to be, a serious medical diagnosis, it is our responsibility as their parents, to help them to focus on the treatment, and not the diagnosis. Take Juvenile Onset Diabetes for instance. We all know that to be a serious medical diagnosis; yet, with their insulin, and diet changes along with other precautions, they can go to live normal, functional lives. These tips should help you to help your preteen learn to cope with a serious medical diagnosis.

1. Talk with your preteen openly about their medical condition. Explain to them as much as you can about their condition. If you need more information, ask the doctor. He/she should be able to give you more of an explanation of the illness or condition.

2. Encourage the to talk with you, and to ask questions. They need to be reassured that you are there for them, and always will be.

3. Before things got out of hand, it would be a good idea to inform others in the family about your preteen's condition. It would help keep things close.

4. If your preteen is having a particularly hard time with their medical diagnosis, maybe it would help to make another doctor's appointment. They might need to see a specialists. If so, make them an appointment.

5. Without nagging, make sure your preteen is following the doctor's instructions. From medicine to exercise, if it is part of the treatment plan that the doctor gave, your preteen needs to understand that this treatment is for his health.

6. Group therapy have proven very beneficial in a lot of preteen and early teen conditions. From acne, substance abuse or diabetes, group therapy has helped many preteens work out, and talk about their issues so that they don't become problems.

7.Make sure the whole family gets involved in the treatment plan of your preteen. If he/she needs to eat a certain diet or have an exercise plan, they will need the support of the family.

8. Help him/her do research on his/her own to better understand their condition.

9. Encourage your preteen or early teen to be open with their friends about their medical condition. I will use my mom as an example. Instead of hiding her diabetes from her grandkids, she would invite them to watch her give herself shots. While she did so, she would explain to them why she had to do things a certain way. All seven of her grandkids thought she was the bravest and the coolest person for giving herself shots everyday. Most of your preteen's friends will be the same way if your preteen is open with them.

10. Don't allow them to withdraw or to be ashamed. Help them to understand that a medical condition is not a deadly epidemic. Sometimes bad things happen to good people and it is up to us to make the most of what we have.