Depression post-treatment

Chips530

CarrieSt,I'm here for you (& I'm sure all the other ladies are too). I had surgery 2 years ago & months of radiation.I came though everthing great & everyone told me how strong I was.In fact, I never shed a tear. Maybe that was at least part of what causes my problem now.Just out of the blue,a year later,I fell apart.I couldn't go out of the house,I shook all over ,inside & out,& I had negative thoughts all the time My medical Dr.put me on Lexapro & I began to feel better.I went to my Oncologist last week & he said this is normal & has happened to some of his other patients.Just hearing that helped me a lot.If you can find support groups,agood Oncologist(that will listen to you) & keep sharing in this group.Hope you're feeling better each day.{{{{{Hugs}}}Dianne

CarrieSt

Thank you for all of that advice. It gives me places to start to help myself more. I know I have friends and family that say they are there for me but I find it hard to ask for them to help in any way.

Just looking into finding support groups was difficult for me. But being part of this is helping me already.

Thank you again. 😊

lj4618

Hi Everyone,

I started this topic. I'm about to be super blunt. I have to because reading your comments breaks my heart. Listen, having breast cancer is really fucking hard. It is terrifying, sad, and painful, both emotionally and physically. It is traumatic. It is downright depressing. It literally causes depression. It changes you forever. Unfortunately, in addition to all of this, there is an unspoken expectation to be strong; to not let it get the best of you. There is an unspoken "rule" to not let it affect your work or your relationships, to be positive, to be a fighter. The truth is, however, it has nothing to do with you and everything to do with everyone else. A lot of people just plain feel better, more comfortable, if you fight and stay positive and move on. Not everyone, not the ones who support and love you unconditionally. The ones who feel inconvenienced, though? Those who have a hard time dealing with how it affects THEM, how it makes them feel, need you to move on. You are perfect. Listen to me, your body tried to kill you! You feel whatever you feel. You express those fears and painful emotions anyway you can. My advice is, though, only do so to those who deserve the honor to listen. I am here for you. We need to support each other. Hell, call me if you need to. I will give you my number. From someone who went through my diagnosis, then a bi-lateral mastectomy, followed by chemotherapy, and then three more surgeries, and then lost my Mom to a stroke - it WILL get better. The only way out is trough.

All my love and compassion,

Lori Jean

CarrieSt

You nailed it! Everyone wants me to be strong and most people have moved on without me. In other words, they’re over it already and I’m in post cancer shock and depression. They all commend me in how strong I am and how well I’ve dealt with all of it. If only they knew.

I feel like I’m on shaky ground now. Not sure what will happen next. Doing lots of praying and praying for all women going through this.

Hugs to all of you

Chelsea5

Amen and amen. It seems like this is supposed to be “over”. How wrong is that! Each day brings its own venture. Thank you for this thread and your posts. Lj4618 sorry about your Mom 💕