It can be quite a trauma to find that you or other members of your family have been diagnosed with lead poisoning. Recognizing the array of emotions and finding a way to cope with them is quite valuable. You can expect varying emotions but know that you don’t have to face this without help. Parents of children diagnosed with lead poisoning are experiencing similar emotions. Learning the skills of coping with these emotions involves applying coping techniques and then using them to overcome the challenges in our lives and the problems we must face.
Awareness is the first step in coping with your child’s lead poisoning diagnosis. It is common for most people are unaware of the dangers of lead products and they may be uncertain what the issues are. Where to go for help after learning of a child’s lead poisoning diagnosis and are other kids in danger of lead poisoning? How can I help my child to understand why they are ill? All are important and valid questions that you will seek the answers for.
You may also feel denial, guilt, grief, anger, and even acceptance. It’s important to acknowledge these as normal and acceptable emotions and know that understanding them can make you able to better deal emotionally with the diagnosis of lead poisoning. Outlined below are the well accepted range of emotions that parents usually experience after a lead poisoning diagnosis.
Denial is often the first emotion felt by a parent who has learned their child has lead poisoning. Many parents want to believe that the lab tests are incorrect and their child was misdiagnosed. Others may feel that lead poisoning is not serious and decide that their child does not need medical treatment. Denial is a valid emotion but don’t let it stop you from getting your child the medical attention they need. Denial passes with time and can easily transition to strong feelings of anger.
Many parents become very angry at those they believe should have warned them of the danger of lead poisoning. Other parents will choose to become angry with themselves because they are uninformed or unaware of the dangers of paint or pipes leading to lead poisoning. It’s important that this anger be directed into needed action to protect your children. Use the angry energy to seek out answers and find resources to help your child.
Guilty feelings and emotions often follow the anger. Parents can feel extremely guilty because they didn’t protect their kids because they did not know lead paint hazards. Guilt can stops us from taking needed action but can also provide the needed impetus to push us into taking action.
Parents experience grief because of their child’s lead poisoning diagnosis. Grief can empower you to make changes in your life for the health and well-being of both you and your affected children. Grief is known to be an emotion of healing and is helpful in moving you toward acceptance as a final step.
Acceptance is the final emotion in the coping process. Acceptance helps bring a feeling of empowerment and even of peace, bringing with it a renewed energy to face the future. Many parents begin to reach out and seek others through support groups, public health counselors and church programs.
Healthy coping skills help us focus on the needs of our kids. There are many ways that we can become empowered and involved in our kid’s lead poisoning treatment.
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Educate yourself about the issues of lead poisoning and your children’s needs. State health departments and the federal government have educational programs and booklets available on the topic of lead poisoning. The library is also a great resource.
- Advocate for your child by asking questions of doctors,
nurses and others involved in your child’s health care. If you don’t
understand the answers just keep asking until someone is able to
help you understand.
- Involve family members in medical and educational aspects of your child’s treatment. This reduces the stress of explaining and will provide you with help through the process.
- Educate yourself about the risk of lead products throughout your house through information available from your local health department.
- Educate others about the hazards of lead poison and teach them how to provide safe environments for children free of lead.
- Request that your child have hearing tests and screening for hyperactivity and learning impairment, as these may be signs of lead poisoning.
Remember that you aren’t alone in this and that it will help you make a great difference in the life of your child and those in your community.
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