Stress overload/diet slipping/need encouragement

Luvmydobies

Stress overload/diet slipping/need encouragement

Luvmydobies

Hi ladies, I have been so stressed for months. I'm almost a year out from treatment and lately I've been feeling scared about a lot of things but mostly my cancer coming back/mets. Every little ache and pain freaks me out. I just stress over everything, including stress itself, thinking it's gonna make cancer come back. Also, I'm having night sweats especially when I'm anxious. So I've been really down and out. I've been diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and am in therapy for that. No meds though. We've had a lot going on with family also but I won't go into detail because of too much to type. With all the stress I've been really slacking with exercise and eating right. One reason I don't eat a lot of fruits and veggies is because it gives me loose stool. I had C Diff three times during treatment and every time I get an upset stomach I get terrified! It's a post traumatic issue. I also worry if my cancer comes back it will be my fault for eating crappy food and not exercising! I also found out three weeks ago that I have slight truncal lymphedema so that's another bummer and a constant reminder of cancer! Ugh! Anyway could you ladies please help my mood a little? Thanks for letting me vent. XOXO!

Moderators

Luvmydobbies, you've definitely reached out to the right place for support and encouragement!

We are sorry you're having a tough time right now, but we just know the others here will help lift you up In the meantime, you may find it helpful to check out the main Breastcancer.org site's side effect page on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) for some really good tips to help manage this side effect.

Also, the Breastcancer.org Nutrition and Exercise sections have some really helpful advice on getting you back on track.

We hope this helps!

--The Mods

ruthbru

Come over to the Fitness Forum, there are a bunch of good, helpful threads. A bunch of us post weekly on the Wednesday Weigh In thread, and the Lets Post Our Daily Exercise thread is a super active thread with ladies at all fitness levels and in every stage of treatment and beyond who would love to include you as an exercise buddy!

slv58

Luvmydobies, I'm sending a big {{{hug}}} your way. Do you have someone close to you that you can share how your feeling? You say your in therapy, do you feel you are getting constructive support or is it possible you need to look for a new therapist? I think the fear you are feeling is part of the new normal that we all have to adjust to, but maybe your having a hard time with that next phase. I found that meditation (positive imagery)  has helped me quite a bit. During my tx year, I kept a grateful journal (through a free app-Maxjournal) and forced myself in the beginning to look for one single thing everyday to be grateful for. It wasn't very long before I started looking forward to finding something for that day. Sometimes I would just post a photo, sometimes it was a single sentence but I found the 'Exercise' of looking for something special each day kept me in the moment and made me realise that I had to make the most of each day! 

I've just started yoga and now wished I had started earlier. I'm not sure why, but I feel so good after my lesson, emotionally as well as physically. I suffer with a lot of post chemo joint stiffness/pain and find my mobility is getting a bit better. Maybe you could try some easy yoga classes? There is a serenity that you will feel. The nice thing is that the time you spend in class is just for you and a step in the right direction.

As far as diet, don't beat yourself up. We all wonder if there is something we could have done to prevent our C, but there are many very healthy women who exercise and eat correctly who still get this disease. Try just incorporating one healthy snack a day, set your goals small so that it is easily achievable and then pat yourself on the back for attaining them! 

Remember to praise yourself for everything you have overcome. You ARE a strong woman and need to concentrate on you. Don't take the weight of everything on yourself, you need time to heal from everything. 

I have a 'positive inspiration' wall hanging in my bathroom. Every time I read something or feel something that inspires me I write it on a sticky note and pin it on. I see this every day and it reminds me to keep my emotions in check. Here is my favourite attached to one of my pics, hope you like it also!

Luvmydobies

Thanks gals. I'll check out the links and the fitness forum as well! I do talk to my husband and my mom quiet a bit. The hubby just can't understand my fears, especially the C Diff one. I know antibiotics are the main cause of C Diff but the dear comes back every time I get an upset stomach. I know if I'd stop stressing so much my stomach would probably get better. Anyway, one reason I love this forum is because you all understand. 

Slv, thanks for the hug! I do write my feelings down and coping strategies, as well as what I'm grateful for, as that's part of my therapy. I like the positive inspiration stuff too! Thanks! In a couple of weeks I'm going to attend an exercise class for three days a week that the cancer center offers free to survivors. It's a four month program. I need to look into yoga too that's offered by them as well. I just went for a two mile walk because the weather is nice today. Went for a shorter walk yesterday. I just don't tolerate heat well since finishing chemo. Ugh! Anyways thanks again. Best wishes for everyone!

Luvmydobies

Hi ladies, I am slowly coming out of my funk and am eating better like I was all the years before I was diagnosed. I've also joined an exercise program that the cancer center offers free to cancer survivors. The trainers there are great and I've met some wonderful ladies as well. I still have my bad days of course but I'm doing better. Thanks again to the few of you who replied. Have a nice day!