Emotions

notdoneliving

Really depressed this morning. I've been depressed lately and it seems to be getting worse. It's all subconscious. I'm not really thinking about things (although it's always on my mind, of course). Starting radiation November 13. Tamoxifen after it's over.

Going for a walk with a friend this morning. Didn't feel like getting up, but here I go...

dtad

Those are all normal feelings. Exercise is the best thing you can do!

Moderators

Hi notdoneliving,

As dtad said, these feelings are very common and normal with a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. And she's right -- exercise is a fantastic way to get yourself out of a slump, so good for you!

If you'd like some other tips/suggestions on dealing with depression associated with a breast cancer diagnosis, we encourage you to check out the main Breastcancer.org site's page on Depression.

We hope this helps!

--The Mods

notdoneliving

Thanks dtad and mods. My walk yesterday was great. And exercise does help, but it seems like the effects wear off. I suppose I need to do it more often.

I will read about depression on breastcancer.org.

Strangely, though, I would be interested in the reasons why people here get depressed. Everything with me happens subconsciously, so I'm not thinking about things that make me depressed, I have to figure them out.

ruthbru

Come over to the Lets Post Our Daily Exercise thread on the Fitness Forum. A great group of ladies in all stages of treatment and beyond & at all exercise levels too. A wonderful support system of ladies who 'get it'.

Of course it is depressing. BC jolts us out of our lives and makes us think about our own mortality in a very real way and do medical things that we don't want to do and are very hard on our bodies as well......takes us down many roads (physically and mentally both) we never knew, or wanted to know, existed. When I was in treatment, I just had to go day by day & NOT even try to figure out deeper meaning or anything. Afterwards it took a whole year before I could even begin to process what had happened. I knew I would have to try to make sense of it but had to wait until I was stronger emotionally. I keep super busy in my daily life and exercised a lot in the interim, both which helped a lot.

igay1ord

Good morning notdoneliving! I completely understand about emotional part! I'm getting ready to do chemo round #2 on Wednesday, and just yesterday, my hair started coming out by the handfuls. I knew this was going to happen, but it's still a shock to actually see it. I had a really hard day yesterday, and I can feel it coming on again today. My husband works out of town, but comes home once a month for 3-4 days, and thank goodness it coincides with my treatments. All my family is in NC/TN/FL, so I'm basically alone most of the time.

After reading about exercise, maybe I need to go to the gym again. Can't hurt to try. Have a great rest of the weekend!

ruthbru

Come over to the Lets Post Our Daily Exercise thread too! Whatever you can do during treatment as far as exercise goes will probably help you get through it better both physically and mentally, and FOR SURE it will help you bounce back faster and better once you are done.

notdoneliving

Thanks for your responses, ruthbru and igay1ord! I'll look for Lets Post Our Daily Exercise. It helps to know processing it now is unlikely. And my situation isn't even bad. igay1ord, I hope you made it to the gym yesterday. I know it helped me when I used to go. It sure helped on my dad's first birthday after he died! Can't afford it any more. I kept up with an online friend who went through chemo and was very open about it on Facebook. Her son video'd her having her head shaved. It was very emotional. She somehow seemed to stay in good spirits and looked fabulous. I can imagine it might feel better to do it in one big go rather than see it go bit by bit daily.

I'm lucky I'm not having chemo. Radiation starts November 13. Then Tamoxifen.