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Coping with anxiety while waiting
Cancer: Managing Symptoms | Last Active: Nov 7, 2018 | Replies (39)Comment receiving replies
This is a great topic.... 6 years ago my husband was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. We were horrified, and we spent the next 2-3 years waiting...Waiting for the next bad thing. We watched and waited for symptoms to develop. We interpreted every little twitch as the beginning of the end. We were in full panic mode, anticipating and dreading the worst possible developments. It took us that long to learn to cope with the fear, the depression, the anxiety...until we finally understood that the advice and care the doctors were giving us was empowering - allowing us to live our lives with the best possible outcomes. Note that I speak as though we both got that diagnosis....After being married to this guy for 38 years, that's what it feels like. Our best days have come from enjoying our family, being together doing the daily activities of life - as well as we can, as much as we can, we talk about the symptoms that have developed - to the doctor, to our family, to each other. Shame and embarrassment and dread no longer control our daily life. Small pleasures are the best!
Replies to "This is a great topic.... 6 years ago my husband was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. We..."
Adding to my post....Make no mistake. We have our moments of fear and depression and days where we, individually or both, take our long naps to escape the reality of difficulties of daily life. But knowing that we can recover from a pessimistic outlook, and that there is a lot of life to still be lived, helps a lot.
Thank you for sharing your new found approach to waiting! It sounds like a healthy transition to this "new normal." By the way, your picture is just great - you both look very content and happy.
Teresa
@maxaz1 distraction has always worked for me especially when it is in the form of action. Reading, writing, music, puzzles, painting, drawing, coloring, taking pictures, walking, swimming, driving, phone calls/ texts, surfing the internet & posting/ replying in forums, blogs & group conversations are particularly low to know impact actions for people with limiting health issues
@maxaz1 Thank you for sharing both positive & negative repercussions of major illness. Some useful techniques I've learned are not to dwell on the symptoms except when they cannot be ignored at the moment, when they can't be ignored distraction by focusing on something meaningful (interaction with an animal/ person, research of whatever your IT is) to you. It can be inanimate or living as long as it drives you to do more so that it takes your mind off of the symptom. Though it may not replace the symptom it should relieve it.
@mxaz1 Maxine, I can totally relate to you saying you both got the diagnosis. I feel the same way. My husband has a malignant melanoma of the eye. Whenever I talk about it, it's always as if I was also diagnosed with this melanoma. We've been married 42 years. You are an inspiration to me, thank you! I wish you and your husband the best as you tackle this journey together.
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Very helpful. Thank you.