How do you get past it?

I was just diagnosed last week from positive biopsy so do not know what I have in store.  I am just so scared right now.  What scares me even more is that I may never be able to get past feeling  this way even with treatment.  Please I want to hear from women that have made it through their treatment and are feeling like a normal person again.  Can you actually think about normal things again,  just daily every day things.  I realize that this is a traumatic experience that you will never forget I am sure but I just want to know there is hope to function like a normal person again someday.  I just can't imagine going through life like this forever.   Makes me feel like is it even worth it to have treatment if I am always going to feel this way. 

Thanks for posting this. You and I have the same diagnosis and probably did similar treatments, I was diagnosed just 2 months later. I am totally feeling what you are. This morning I woke up and told my husband today is the first day in many months I woke up and wondered if I was still in the middle of a bad dream Most days are pretty good, but the "waiting for the next shoe to drop" and the thought of recurrance haunts me at least a couple hours a day. I, too, worry that the feeling will never go away. I plan on calling a new therapist today (my old one is on medical leave - she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Go freakin figure). I think therapy could be a really good thing.

I am a year and a half from the end of active treatment. It does get better.

I think we all want to feel better and move on once treatment is over, but it is not as easy at that. I found it the most difficult period emotionally, which I think is sorta where you are. It felt like I had blinders on to get through treatment and then when it ended, they came off and I needed figure out to integrate this whole experience into other aspects of my life. Not so easy, I was exhausted, beat up, finally starting to think about recurrence fears, and family friends sort of think it is all over.

A few things that might help: exercise, especially something like yoga at tai chi which can be strengthening and calming, but really anything you want to do and will do. therapy- really- I resisted for a long time and this is when I fianlly agreed to see a therapist. if you are on anti-depressant, you may need to adjust your meds, I needed to bump mine up. If you are not on AD, try to pay attention to your mood and anxiety and seek help if you need it. Try to treat yourself to little things- a manicure, an evening out with your fiance.

We have had our confidence shaken when it comes to health and all the things that supposedly prevent disease and promote health. It is hard to find the balance between doing things that are good for you, healthy, etc. and becoming obsessed with what is the thing that will keep this beast from coming back. everything in moderation. if an exercise routine, or dietary change feels right, go for it.

The best thing you can do is take it easy on yourself. With time, your hair will start to grow, your energy will improve and you and your fiance will figure it out. 

hugs

Rachel

Beeb, we are the same person!  I am feeling the same way.  I am super busy, which is kind of distracting me, but I am pretty sad inside.  So ready to move on and start dating again, but i have a lame haircut and super hard boobs, so that ain't happening.  Going through this alone was hard - do you know how many of my friends got engaged, married, pregnant, or had a baby during my treatment?  Close to forty!  FORTY.  Sometimes, I just couldn't go on Facebook.  *sigh* I know it will get better, I just wish it would hurry up and do so!