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What High-Functioning Anxiety Looked Like for Me After Cancer

So, from the outside, I looked like I was doing fine. I went back to work. I showed up for my responsibilities.I kept moving forward. But in the inside, it was different. I was overthinking everything. Every feeling, every change in my body, every “what if” that crossed my mind. I didn’t always say it out loud, but it was there.

But here's the kicker. I was still functioning. That’s what made it hard to recognize. I didn’t look like I was struggling. I wasn’t falling apart. But carrying it quietly.

So after going through a rare cancer diagnosis, with a poor prognosis, I thought surviving would mean I’d feel okay. Since then, I’ve learned that those are two different things. Survivnng and healing don’t always happen at the same time. For me, part of my healing journey has been learning how to slow down, process what I’ve been through, and give myself space to feel what I didn’t always have time to feel in the moment.

So, I’m sharing this because I know I’m not the only one. If you’ve gone through something life-changing and have found yourself still trying to make sense of it after everything “should” be okay… I see you.

#Lifeaftercancer #MentalHealth #cancersurvivor #Mesothelioma #Anxiety

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What's an aspect of sex after #Cancer that doesn't get talked about enough?  #Lifeaftercancer

I want to know: What's a frustrating challenging or even positive aspect of having sex after going through cancer that people don't really talk about. Share below! Your answer might be used in a post on The Mighty. #BreastCancer #TesticularCancer #ThyroidCancer #Leukemia #ChronicIllness

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Symbols of Hope

#Lifeaftercancer
These are not just shoes. These are beautiful reminders of how far I’ve come. Every time I lace these up to go for a run or even just to play with my dog, I am reminded how hard I worked to be able to put these shoes on and beat the odds so I could run.
I am reminded how not even a year ago, I was in a full leg cast from a reset break, on oxygen, and clinging for my life.

These shoes sat at the top of my three story climb that I insisted on taking every day. They beckoned to me to keep going. These shoes were the icon toward my wellness. They were the tangible thing I held onto as I counted steps dragging my broken leg and my oxygen. These shoes stayed with me on my journey to the place I am now where the toxins are gone from my life and I am ready to activate my power to be who I was always meant to.

To me, these are not just shoes. They are the symbol of what I went through to simply be able to wear them.

They are a reminder that the mind can overcome the body. They are a symbol of the journey towards wellness and strength I am on. They are a symbol of the choices I made to live and the battles I fought to survive that choice every day. These shoes represent will, survival, and hope. Together these shoes and I are ready to take on the world.

#Cancer #Positivity #ChronicIllness

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