So, you think that you’re in chaos now. I get it. Let me tell you this straight, you are not alone and there are many of us on the same page. *smile* CieloCielo Superticioso, is the author of The Cancer Voice Asia […]
Cielo Superticioso, is the author of The Cancer Voice Asia created last August 2017. Cielo focuses on the remarkable benefits of sharing her story and uses her own journey as a means to help you with yours.
When you think of the popular term “self-love” it’s all about to love yourself more. For a cancer survivor perspective, it’s more than that. You see, for us, cancer is not only a battle of our physical body but also our mental […]
When you think of the popular term “self-love” it’s all about to love yourself more.
For a cancer survivor perspective, it’s more than that.
You see, for us, cancer is not only a battle of our physical body but also our mental health. And if you ask us how can we love ourselves while facing cancer?
Oh boy, that’s a very hard work to do!
Self-love is not only all about ourselves. It’s about working the hard work within and at the same time, giving back the love to the people surrounding us.
So, here are the self-love tips from a cancer survivor:
Self –advocate.
Choose hope.
There is a power in representing yourself or your own view for the sake of YOU. Self-advocacy, in other words, “empowerment”.
Having cancer 3 years ago, it disabled my ability to speak up what I need or feel. You know, when you are being told by your doctor that you have cancer, it immediately mutes you by putting you into isolation and the rough journey has just begun.
However, I never chose to be trapped in the abyss of the isolation of cancer. So what I did, I took an active role in my diagnosis and treatment plan (especially I am residing in a foreign country, Vietnam, and language is the great barrier wherever I go).
I also made my own research, look for a cancer support group and ask to watch helpful videos to make myself educated about this rare cancer, sarcoma.
Self-advocacy simply means, you know yourself, know what you need and know how to get it. You don’t need to have cancer to apply self-advocacy. If the truth needs to be raised, be the voice. No one knows yourself better than YOU. Start practicing self-advocacy and never be afraid to ask.
Meditate.
Meditate. Photo by Dingzeyu Li on Unsplash
Practicing guided imagery in other words guided meditation, visualization, mental rehearsal, and guided-hypnosis may do more than just help create a calm and relaxing state of mind.
In my own experience, I was able to discover the wonder of meditation when I was suffering PTSD after the completion of my cancer treatments. After my radiation therapy treatment was completely finished, I thought I was okay. Until then, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder comes in where it troubled me for almost 5 months. Then in the middle of looking for answers in order to get sleep or to be less anxious, I started doing this only through YouTube after I did some research.
So, as I keep telling people why do I meditate, they are also wondering what is the effect of this to myself. Let me tell this to you straight, I have never experience astral projection for the last 3 years I’ve been doing this. What does a meditation actually help me is to be able to watch myself in every action that I involve in the present moment, where I will be able to watch/observe how my mind is thinking and thus able to control it.
Yes, it does help me to be mindful. Mindfulness indeed – it is knowing what is going on at the moment. Being present with the “now” instead of looking back to the past.
So, why should we meditate? It is actually beneficial not only for someone who had cancer, but also to anyone because it helps to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression and choose to live in the moment and let tomorrow take care of itself.
Am I being delusional here? I never tell you that I am living a perfect life without any worries, problems or anxiety. But if you will be able to make meditation as a habit, no matter how rough your day will be, it will be more possible to see the bright side of a situation the moment you’ll open your heart and mind into changes and accept uncertainties are always there, lurking and ready to share a catastrophe with you.
Sleep/Rest/Nap.
Sleep is very essential.
Sleeping, resting or taking a nap is vital to someone who either a cancer patient or someone that is aiming for a healthier lifestyle. Well, we all love that, a healthier lifestyle. Who does not?
We all know that sleep plays a vital role in all of us in good health and well-being. If we get enough sleep especially at the right times, it can help protect our mental health, physical health, quality of life, and safety.
Most of the time, I am guilty about this. Like, right now, I am writing this article at half-past 2 in the morning and yes you are not alone to be still awake after midnight.
Nope, it isn’t healthy and good. But, yep! Just like you, I am trying, too!
Smile often.
Smile, it’s totally free.
A smile costs nothing but gives much. A smile can be a verb or noun, it’s a facial expression showing how kind and amusing you are where your lips turn up and the front teeth exposed.
My question is. Do you smile every day? Sounds impossible to do it every day right? But a smile can be a habit, too!
Have you seen a grumpy person lately? What do you think why that person can’t afford a smile even we all know that it’s free!
And yes, another way to love yourself is just simply to SMILE. Imagine yourself if you always frowning and angry? Do you feel healthy? Does it make your heart healthy? NO.
If you realize that you frown more than smiling – start making a new habit now. SMILE!
Keep a journal.
Keep a journal. Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash
Even for you, writing can bring many positive benefits. It can give voice to your different feelings and thoughts. It is a mean to express them especially when life becomes difficult to handle. It can also allow you to let go of your toxic emotions that were previously kept inside your heart. And opening yourself through writing can actually help you start to be healed emotionally especially.
You are not good at writing? Well, you don’t have to show it to people actually. If writing can help you process your emotions like what it does with mine, why not care to try? There’s nothing to find out if you will not risk trying to do something you haven’t done yet – like writing and keeping a journal.
Be a better empath.
A hug is worth a thousand words. Photo by Hian Oliveira on Unsplash
It’s never too late to build relationships but it should start with you first. Be a better empath to anyone, be the kind of person you would like to be with and most especially, love yourself first.
The most dangerous enemy of our mental health that is brought by cancer is isolation. Nevertheless, it is not only cancer patients feel isolated, but it could also be anyone. And sometimes we forget the importance of empathy. And we tend to overlook that empathy is real love.
If we can’t show real love to ourselves, we can’t expect that we can love someone else. Because how you treat yourself reflect how you let others treat you.
Challenge yourself.
Challenge yourself.
Know what is your “WHAT NOW” Moment. The phrase tells us the question “what will happen NOW”. Now – living in the moment.
Have you heard this famous quote? “If something that you’re doing doesn’t challenge you, then it doesn’t change you.”
There is always a room for improvement, well even for us, cancer survivors!
I will not see any improvement in my life if I stick to my comfort zone especially right after I face this cancer. You know how my self-esteem dropped very low. Someone who may know me can imagine the opposite me now than before with very low self-esteem.
How do you pay attention to the present despite you experience a lot of traumatic experiences? I hope you don’t limit the challenges you encounter in life. You need a healthy dose of normal stress in our lives, after all.
Pay It Forward.
Pay it forward while you can.
After I learned a valuable lesson after my traumatic experiences especially with cancer, I was then able to share this lesson and that is through blogging. And you know what, I realized that when I started this project of mine “Pay Forward” this is not just a simple passion. This becomes my obsession! As you can see, I am still here writing my never-ending blog just for you!
Well, this obsession does not end by writing blogs alone. This “pay it forward project” continues by losing myself in the service of others. And, by losing myself in the service of others, this is where the “Paying Forward” in Vietnam comes in. I have been living in Vietnam for already 5 years and my cancer diagnosis & surgical removal of the tumor was also found out & done here. So, the idea to give back especially to children with cancer is not very easy to do, not with the help of everyone who is willing to change their mindset about cancer here in Vietnam.
And as The Cancer Voice Vietnam will mark its 1st year, I can say that I am so proud to everyone who is part of this project, especially to the Vietnamese who are eager to raise awareness about cancer, one family at a time.
Embrace self-love. Find some small ways how to practice it every-day. And maybe, you can start it within yourself.
She can, why can’t you?
Share your reasons for self- love and let the world know and let’s celebrate together!
Cielo Superticioso, is the author of The Cancer Voice Asia created last August 2017. Cielo focuses on the remarkable benefits of sharing her story and uses her own journey as a means to help you with yours.
If you already read my previous article about Tien, I shared to you many beautiful photos of her. And you might say, “She doesn’t look sick!” Well, that’s why we don’t judge a book by its cover. In behalf of all patients […]
And you might say, “She doesn’t look sick!” Well, that’s why we don’t judge a book by its cover.
In behalf of all patients with hypothyroid including Tien, I want to share to you the frustrations they feel living with this concealed illness that you might think they look normal but the struggle they carry inside is too painful and heavy where not many people can understand even their own loved ones.
Now, let me explain to you the situation of someone who has hypothyroidism.
This another kind of cancer affects people worldwide and it affects women more than men. The work of your thyroid is to keep the body’s organs functioning properly. Also, thyroid hormone is important for regulation of body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, and metabolism.
But, when the thyroid is no longer functioning, these are the things will most likely happen to your body.
Now, here are more confidential facts about hypothyroidism:
Forbidden
Don’t get me wrong, we can take sides in this issue. With this, I am especially referring to the current situation in Vietnam. Where, for instance, talking about health in this country, i.e. measles outbreak, vaccination, and swine flu are concealed). How much more cancer? Poor people, even family members are in denial and there is no acceptance with the reality
Heart-breaking
Being diagnosed with thyroid cancer means a lifelong need for its management. And problems such as fatigue, weight gain or loss, temperature intolerance, hair loss, and more can affect you not only physically but emotionally, interfering with your relationships and reducing your ability to enjoy daily life.
But here’s the best part despite living life with cancer.
Winning
It is not easy to face cancer. For Tien, she didn’t choose to get cancer, she needs not to fight it. Yet, she faces cancer bravely and she clings on every single hope that she can have every day until that time will come, she will be able to crush cancer. And the winning part, Tien faces cancer the way she wanted, together with the few people who understand her and never left her facing cancer alone.
Life-changing
Can cancer change a patient’s life? Absolutely! No one wishes to have cancer but there are some ways that cancer makes a patient a better person than if it would never had cancer.
Tien is a very quiet or rather we say introvert person, the first time I met her and I found out she has cancer, I tried to reach out and talk to her as a peer survivor. But that was not easy when during that time she was afraid that when people know that she has cancer, she might lose her job or friends.
I asked her if I can write an article about her, at first she hesitates. Gradually, she gained the courage to face the reality where turned herself to appreciate life more by being one of the voices of cancer. She becomes part of The Cancer Voice Vietnam as the graphic designer and to contribute to every charity activities that directly contribute to childhood cancer patients in one of the hospitals in Vietnam.
So, whenever you know someone that is affected with thyroid cancer, be patient with them.
You may see them as lazy, complaining, negative and miserable, but you know what? They are conquering heroes today. When you see them complaining, they are actually achieving a day to survive. When you see them lazy, they are just tired. When you see them irritable, they are in pain.
Whenever you see them like that, they are heroes that will never ever give up.
However, what they only need from you is your support and love. This fight is also your fight whether you like it or not.
Have you recently asked a friend or loved one that has hypothyroidism how they are doing or how their day was?
Cielo Superticioso, is the author of The Cancer Voice Asia created last August 2017. Cielo focuses on the remarkable benefits of sharing her story and uses her own journey as a means to help you with yours.
Having cancer is like you are in official custody to be in a dark abyss. You may think that you are the most unfortunate person in the whole universe and started to ask yourself, “Why, me?” Having cancer means your whole body […]
Having cancer is like you are in official custody to be in a dark abyss. You may think that you are the most unfortunate person in the whole universe and started to ask yourself, “Why, me?”
Having cancer means your whole body is being attacked with a deadly cell that can kill you anytime. And not only that, while you are on a journey of your cancer treatment, it also distresses your mental and emotional well-being.
Yes, that’s what cancer does to a person.
First, your physical body will suffer, both internal and external. Second, because you found out that you have cancer, your anxiety level reaches to a maximum state that thinking every day that you have cancer will drive you insane! And the last, your emotions are not stable – people around you seem cannot understand you. You are acting ridiculous but in fact, all you want to happen is people can simply be there and more empathetic for you.
But this is impossible!
That’s what cancer can do to you, to us, and to your loved ones. It makes your daily life as dark as grey skies before a torrential rain will lash out. It makes you feel you are alone and no one is fighting for you. It makes you feel you are useless. It disables the goals once you planned before. Cancer is indeed a bitch. It will tear you down and drive you insane.
But you know what? You can actually do something –
Look for the stars.
While you are now in the middle of your battle with cancer, let me sum you up with these three practical ways so that you will not feel defeated and too exhausted. You need not to use all your strength in one day only just because you are keen to beat cancer right away! Do it – one step at a time. Do it – mindfully. Do it – slowly, steady and progressing.
Physique
We can only rely on our doctors who have been studying in the laboratory for years just to give you the appropriate treatment to cut the activity of your cancer cell in your body. See your doctor and cooperate what the treatment plans he made for you.
It’s time to give yourself back to nature. A healthy plant-based diet is not only a mere gossip or a myth. Nature is the greatest healer.
Sleep is very essential to our body. After all the hard work you did just to earn money for your needs and wants, and to be called “independent”, yet the sleep you must give to yourself was deprived, do it now. Try to regain the sleep once you lost, regain your sleep like that kind of sleep when you were a baby. There is nothing impossible to do that unless you are willing to try no matter how hard to start all over again. Just try.
Exercise regularly. Find out which kind of exercise that is easy for you to start. It needs not to be a strenuous one. A 30 minute-walk daily is essential to your physique, mind, and emotion.
Emotion
What we eat is what we are. The food that you are consuming can make you sick or can cure you. Why am I talking about food again? Other than to eat healthy during your cancer treatment, sometimes you can’t avoid cheat. But it’s a matter of choice! You can plan the meals that may help you feel better or you can have foods that can make you feel worse.
Validate your feelings. It is normal to have mood swings. The moment you feel happy now, the next moment after you feel sad. Feelings change from time to time, go through that exact feeling and let it go. Never extinguish or hide your emotions. You need to have an acceptance that you feel low, afraid or useless – you may need to talk about your feelings to a friend who can understand or just simply be alone and talk to yourself. Wouldn’t it be nice if you can do that each time you feel so low and anxious? Don’t wait when depression kicks in, sometimes it is too hard to tread the deep waters especially when you don’t know how to swim. Take a precaution before you dive in the depth of the depression.
Meditate or pray. I am not promoting you to follow a certain practice. Just do it – whether you want to practice meditation or pray directly to the highest. You can pray at the same time, meditate. Mediation appears to help tame your emotions which only you can do that. It is an internal task and you cannot rely on this to other people.
Mind
Our thoughts affect our emotions, the same way our emotions affect our thoughts. When someone had told you to trust your gut feeling, it is because your guts that found in your stomach are actually the second brain of your body. And these two organs are connected both physically and biochemically in a number of different ways. So, if you could effectively follow the practice I mentioned earlier in how to manage your emotion and which food you need to consume daily, you will be most likely a proactive mindset that can help you to make a better decision while you are on your cancer treatment.
Self-awareness is the key to a healthy mind. If you have good emotional health, you are aware of your thoughts, feelings, and behavior. Coping up with your negative emotions during your cancer treatment is very helpful on the road to survival.
It is always a matter of choice.
When cancer gives you dark days, thrive to look for the stars. Don’t keep nagging and pitying yourself why you have to experience this kind of disease. You are only helping cancer cell to grow more aggressive. Cancer may make you weak each day, but try to use that small strength wisely.
Strive for resilience. Strive for a healthy lifestyle. Strive to thrive.
Cielo Superticioso, is the author of The Cancer Voice Asia created last August 2017. Cielo focuses on the remarkable benefits of sharing her story and uses her own journey as a means to help you with yours.
Seriously, what does normal mean, anyway? That was Forrest’s awesome mother blurted out during her conversation with the flirty school principal. Well, have you thought about that? What’s normal anyways? Being normal does not really have a true definition because everything is […]
That was Forrest’s awesome mother blurted out during her conversation with the flirty school principal.
The Cancer Voice Asia | Forrest Gump
Well, have you thought about that? What’s normal anyways? Being normal does not really have a true definition because everything is just — relative.
You really don’t have to be normal. Let your unrestrained behavior wing its way!
Are you weird, too?
Nah, that’s okay. You’re not normal, and that’s okay. Because there is no such thing as “normal”.
Imagine this.
From the first diagnosis of any person with cancer, their mainstream life gradually fades away. They start feeling being anxious, helpless, guilty and all kinds of negative feelings that are contributed by this disease. The worst, this traumatic experience of cancer can lead to PTSD or major mental breakdown.
Take this for example.
The first time I found out that I had a tumor, there is no night and day that I don’t cry. No matter how I tried to smile at people, it’s just difficult. After my surgical removal, the struggle continues. As if, there is no more life after this diagnosis. Cancer is deadly, I felt so hopeless. After my radiation therapy, I thought I will feel better. Then PTSD started to kick in. I avoided people around me, sleeping is just so hard, and flashbacks of traumatic of all experiences are reliving every day.
Cancer is no laughing matter.
But… It’s okay to laugh at cancer. It’s okay to laugh harder when you have cancer. Like an old saying goes about laughter being the best medicine, why not laugh as much as you can? It’s a medicine that is available for everyone.
Go laugh, there are no rules in laughing no matter in what situation you are in. Whether you have cancer.
While cancer is not a laughing matter, finding humor in the middle of difficulty – it sounds impossible but it’s probable.
Even though you are trying to live a normal life while battling cancer, it seems you just can’t. But living each day to the fullest. Having cancer and facing thoughts of death is a life-changing event in our life. Maybe, it’s the time to minimize your regrets and make new priorities. Enjoy the simple things you like to do, take pleasure in big events such as a friend’s job promotion.
Every season brings its own joy. – Spanish Proverb
Live the life you wish as you can. It’s okay not to be normal, it’s okay not to be okay and it’s okay to laugh at cancer.
Cielo Superticioso, is the author of The Cancer Voice Asia created last August 2017. Cielo focuses on the remarkable benefits of sharing her story and uses her own journey as a means to help you with yours.
Hello dear readers! So this time, I would like to discuss about this topic (if you are keen on “talking it over” after you read this article) about PTSD. But before I will continue, I want to be clear to everyone that […]
So this time, I would like to discuss about this topic (if you are keen on “talking it over” after you read this article) about PTSD. But before I will continue, I want to be clear to everyone that this topic is about psychiatry/neurology and I don’t have any medical background to put into words this point at issue but I will share to you an experience which is very common to every cancer survivor and try to let you understand in a language that we all could make sense of.
Some experts in this field wanted to accentuate that the word “disorder” in Post-traumatic stress should actually not to be referred to as a disorder. In fact, from a neurological standpoint, it is a reordering of the brain’s neural networks and pathways and sensory pathways in order to survive a dangerous situation.
Okay, so I just mentioned PTSD. What is that?
It is not just a simple everyday stress.
By definition, PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder) is a mental health problem that some people developed after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, like combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, sexual assault, or even cancer.
PTSD is real for most cancer survivors. Dealing with anxiety after surviving cancer battle is actually another battle that a survivor needs to survive once more.
And for most cancer survivors who experience anxiety after the successful treatment always believe that they are really experiencing PTSD as it has always been identified since then. And the label “PTSD” seems like a “domino effect” that the latter cancer survivors believe that they are too experiencing the same.
Whether we mark this experience as PTSD or not, how sad to realize that a cancer survivor has almost no rest from surviving, but it’s true, it’s real. Most of us have to deal with the anxiety what cancer has brought to us.
Even myself, I thought that after my radiation therapy treatment, I will be okay and finally free from fighting about my life and how to stay alive. But the fact is, I continue to fight after my treatment. A fight from the feeling that I’m about to die or I’m gonna lose my mind, but actually I’m not.
After my radiation therapy treatment sessions, I have to take care of my completely burned skin every day, and with that, I feel like I have to hide from everyone because I didn’t like the fact to be asked about my wound and illness every time I meet a friend.
Well, it actually happened. I hide from everyone and I thought of running away and hiding from people who I used to know can help me. But the results are opposite. These are the signs I observed during the 5 months I was very anxious:
Nightmares & flashbacks What did I do? All the negative events happened to me before I had cancer keep coming back as if it always haunts me each day.
Avoiding places, events, people, or things that bring back any memories from the past What did I do? I preferred to stay in the corner in the room after work and avoided all messages from friends who are near me.
Strong feelings of guilt, hopelessness, or shame What did I do? I sent all negative and toxic messages to myself that makes my self gradually deteriorating especially my self-esteem.
Trouble sleeping or concentrating What did I do? I tried to manage to sleep early but I just couldn’t.
Continuous feelings of fear, irritability or anger What did I do? I easily got angry and irritable to few persons who are close to me and in return, they never understand me. Instead of letting them know the exact feeling I feel inside I rant and unfortunately, the result is, one of the people close to me deliberately cut our connection.
Loss of interest in activities (or relationships) that used to be enjoyable What did I do? I lost interest to socialize even to go back hosting an English Club event which I used to do it for more than a year already.
Unwanted thoughts What did I do? Kept thinking of negative thoughts.
Difficulty feeling emotions What did I do? I thought I could keep up with being positive at that moment, but that was difficult in that bleak, unguarded moment.
Funny thing is, after listing down the signs of PTSD, which I got from Cancer.net, I almost got all the signs & symptoms except self-destructive behavior, such as drug or alcohol abuse.
Therefore I can say that having these signs or one of these signs should not be taken for granted and should be given attention as soon as possible before this anxiety disorder will turn into deeper depression or the worst clinical depression.
How to know who to help, who needs help?
Whether that person is your friend, neighbor, colleague or a family member, by simply looking at them without questioning what he/she has gone through with his/her life, you cannot tell that they experience some traumatic event at some point of their life. You will never know that he/she needs help until such then, you will see that precious loved one already drowning in a very deep ocean of depression.
The sad thing is, you cannot see it, hear it or feel it.
The worst thing is they’re not going to talk about it – only them can see the dark wallowing shadow of distress, hear the echoes of anxiety and feel the torturing flashbacks of a life-threatening event that happened in their life, such as cancer.
However, within those 5 months of detaching myself from other people, isolating myself from my loved ones and anxiety grows more each day, I notice that my brain and my body are gradually exhausted.
But I thought I have to do something.
In the middle of my fight against anxiety, I could probably help myself by doing something that helps my body and mind restore to an energetic and a positive person.
I realize that I cannot control whatever circumstances that may show up in my life even after my treatment from cancer but I can always control how I react to it.
I honestly and sensibly decide if I wanted to stay anxious or be drowned in the abyss of anxiety. These negative emotions that I felt after my treatment and those negative emotions I got from other people who heedlessly know that they did will never let me go unless I am willing to let this toxics go.
Letting it go was not easy but it is rewarding at the same time when you finally get back in a condition where you have inner peace, calm, and untriggered.
I start working on my physical body first. I did whatever my body pleasures to have to, like massage and as well as guided imagery (such as prayer or meditation). It was during that time also, my first time I did meditation because I want to look for solutions myself without asking anyone yet. And with meditation, what I (or anyone) could benefit is to reset our breathing back to normal. And by doing this regularly, it will actually increase our ability to focus, decreased mind wandering, improved arousal levels, more positive emotions, decreased emotional reactivity, along with many others.
I don’t know what works for you, but my only clear motive is to know where are you now after you finally finish your cancer treatment. It may not easy to say this, but I will be glad if you are now in the full range of positive emotions with your loved ones. But if not, do what’s the best for your body, listen to your body and feel what it sends to your brain.
Do it now, not later.
Are keen on talking this topic over? Just leave your comments below.
Cielo Superticioso, is the author of The Cancer Voice Asia created last August 2017. Cielo focuses on the remarkable benefits of sharing her story and uses her own journey as a means to help you with yours.
My thoughts… are just everywhere. I could not even focus. My mind is blinded, racing, and beating right out of my chest. I had been diagnosed with cancer, I followed all the treatments. Now, I’m back home, I can go back to […]
My thoughts… are just everywhere. I could not even focus. My mind is blinded, racing, and beating right out of my chest.
I had been diagnosed with cancer, I followed all the treatments. Now, I’m back home, I can go back to work.
I am not even sure if I will miss my old before my cancer. I embraced my cancer, but I am not living with cancer.
Oh, so you’re still alive, how unfortunate are you!
You are wrong.
Cancer sucks and so as anxiety or depression.
Wait… depression? Don’t get me wrong. I am referring to depression that is more common for everyone even for those people who don’t have cancer.
Depression is not the same as clinical depression. But, if you just let yourself go deeper into different symptoms of depression, you will be more likely stuck in major depression.
To be honest, if you are gonna ask me how I’m doing, it is a question that I just really want to give a reply.
But if I won’t reply, you will misunderstand me and you will start to drift apart.
Do you think it is easy to answer this question for a cancer survivor? Because you know what? For a cancer survivor like me, I choose not to talk about my cancer and allow me to live my new life with the same people who used to surround me.
Oh, yes, I got it. Some of you will not eventually stay, well, this is my new life!
We choose not to talk about our cancer because this is one of the ways we can cope easily.
You may think that I give up, well, it’s the only way to survive.
I prefer to stop thinking about my cancer, meet new friends, go somewhere I have never been and do things I have never done.
**In one of my research results reveals that depression is more common for people with cancer who often struggle with uncertainty, challenges, and fear that a cancer diagnosis can bring.
According to Cancer.net, depression is a collection of symptoms that group into 4 categories: mood-related, cognitive, physical and behavioral. Because cancer and cancer treatment can cause similar cognitive and physical symptoms as depression. More emphasis is placed on the mood-related and behavioral symptoms for people with cancer.
What are the symptoms?
Mood-related symptoms: feelings of sadness, hopelessness, irritability, numbness, or worthlessness.
Cognitive symptoms: they are related to a person’s thought process, it decreases the ability to concentrate, difficulty making decisions, memory problems, and negative thoughts (severe depression can include thoughts of suicide).
Behavioral symptoms: crying often, social withdrawal, loss of interest in activities you previously enjoyed and a loss of motivation.
So what are the common ways doctors treat people with depression (the first 2 points can be done carefully even without doctor’s endorsement)?
Emotional and social support can help people better cope with the daily challenges that cancer brings.
Main treatments are counseling and medication (sometimes both, but must be done by a qualified doctor).
Talk with a counselor or a right person/friend (for mild depression).
The main goal of counseling is to enhance coping in problem-solving skills, help find support and reshape negative self-defeating thoughts.
There are numbers of counseling options: individual counseling, couples or family counseling and group counseling.
The following are just the inescapable facts of everyone’s life that we cannot change.
You may not have cancer but you are in pain. It may not every day like how a cancer patient feels but it is clear that we cannot stay away from sadness, worthlessness, or anxiety.
Suffering, regardless, it is something that we can be in charge of. We always have the option to stay happy than to be stuck in an utterable turmoil of depression or anxiety.
And only you can do that. Your friends and families’ support is more than enough but it’s useless if you already made a choice inside. And that is, to be filled with sadness and negativities.
It is not easy, being happy does not happen in just one snap, but if you are decided after making a choice to turn your life upside-down.
You can see the beauty of the process of taming your brain’s emotional response. Whatever life throws at you, you will always keep returning to a conscious and mindful state of mind. And you will be able to recognize your emotions within yourself and even in others and to manage them daily.
Any thoughts you want to share regarding your struggle and struggle with anxiety and depression?
Cielo Superticioso, is the author of The Cancer Voice Asia created last August 2017. Cielo focuses on the remarkable benefits of sharing her story and uses her own journey as a means to help you with yours.
