Shocked by diagnosis - What to do when life is hard
Sometimes life throws you a curve.
After getting Covid I started having a rapid heart rate. It turned out to be hyperthyroid. I was told to go on the AIP diet, which is a very strict elimination diet. I didn’t blow it once, thinking “Boy, I should be rewarded for this.” What I got was a diagnosis of breast cancer, again. I had the experience of being diagnosed with breast cancer 24 years ago.
I never thought I had to worry about it again, but unfortunately, I guess you always have to stay proactive.
Life sometimes isn’t fair. I have such a healthy lifestyle habits. I want to be rewarded for this. But this is life, and it is what it is.
The 1st couple weeks I just felt sad. I really don’t want to do this again. I know I will have to make hard decisions about my healing plan and there are no guarantees. I don’t want to spend my summer this way; seeing doctors, not being able to swim because of surgery, so I am disappointed and sad.
It is important to accept your feelings. I allowed myself to be sad for a couple of weeks. I’ve learned that if I allow and honor my feelings rather than fight them, they don’t stay around. Now, it is time to move on and create my healing plan.
Notice my words, “I had the experience of being diagnosed with breast cancer”. I came up with this 24 years ago. Words have power. What you program in your mind can come out in your body. I didn’t and don’t want to own cancer as part of me. I want it to be an experience like many others in my life. It is less emotional and has far less power over me when I choose these words. I choose to speak of healing.
So what lessons can I learn from this that I didn’t before? I don’t know. It is still too raw.
I do know:
I don’t want to speak about how horrible this disease is. I do want to focus on how to be resilient. This would empower me and maybe can help others. I do know making something good come out of any bad experience helps me be resilient.
As I go through this healing journey, I will share ways that help me be resilient – ways that will help me heal. I hope they will be useful to you.