What Is the Autism Grief Cycle?

August 7, 2025

The autism grief cycle refers to the emotional process parents and families may go through after an autism diagnosis. It’s similar to the grief stages experienced when dealing with any major life change, but it’s unique to the challenges and realities of raising a child with autism.

This cycle often includes stages like denial, where parents might struggle to accept the diagnosis, followed by anger or frustration about the perceived challenges their child will face. Next comes bargaining, where parents may hope for changes or different outcomes. Depression is common as families process the impact of the diagnosis on their expectations and future.

Eventually, families may reach acceptance, where they learn to embrace their child’s unique qualities and find ways to provide the support needed to help them thrive.

It’s important to remember that everyone’s journey is different, and not all families will go through these stages in the same order or intensity. Seeking support, including ABA therapy, can help families cope with emotions and build a positive path forward.

At Little Rays ABA, we’re here to guide families through the challenges of autism, providing effective emotional support and ABA therapy in Florida.

Need support navigating the autism journey?

SOURCES:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6926999/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0882596324001131

https://www.europeanreview.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/7698-7708-1.pdf

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0883941725000354

https://www.adhd.com.au/autism/parental-grief-adaptation-asd

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