Stress Level Out of Control

If you are crazy, so am I Actually I was having the same problem for awhile, still do at times, I finally chalked it up to PTSD. Once I realized I was having generalized anxiety and started to look at the root cause I realized that I really had not delt with things at the time, I just stuffed everything and charged ahead. Then I realized all that built up stress was "leaking out" of me so to speak, at a constant flow. I think that before BC my stress level was a lot lower so I could handle stressful things better, but after BC I think that my base line stress level, that underlying constant fear-stress, was so high that it only took little everyday worries to cause my stress level to go too high, too quickly. I also found that it triggered a kind of obsessive compulsive worry mode, the kind that keeps you up over little things. I am still working at it, counseling does help if you can find someone that you can bond with and feel safe to talk about your fears with.

I get overwhelmed sometimes, I did before diagnosis too and then I went through a period of time that all I could worry about was cancer related issues, now I am back to my general worry and stress of trying to control the world.  It helps when I sit back and realize that during the time where I stopped trying to control everything - everything worked out ok, some things even better.

So I make a list in my head, if I can't sleep I will actually jot them all down on paper or on my iphone and then try to let them go.

We really should try to meet up when I am down in DC (maybe August?)

YESSSS!!!!!! I think about this all the time--how overwhelmed I feel. I feel that my mind is so stressed and tired by the treatment and is not quite up to the task of balancing everything I used to balance. Now, I've added a new role--cancer survivor--and everything that comes with that like exercise and diet requirements, doctor appointments, etc. But none of the other roles have gone away or lessened. I often don't know how I'm going to do it and sometimes just shut down. I am working with a therapist who has identified stress and is treating that. She says I have adjustment disorder--too much to adjust to, in my words. I don't know if I have anxiety or PTSD. However, I know that if my father-in-law, who was just placed in palliative care, dies, I'm taking my leftover Ativans. That seems to go along with anxiety.

It's no wonder the oncs and surgeons and radiologists don't want to talk "future prognosis" with anyone !!  Have had two friends in the last month have recurrent BC, one now is in her spine, one now in hip bones.  This sucks and I mean REALLY !  One DX was not as severe as the other friend but the second friend's DX is almost carbon copy of mine.  Am 3 years out but I keep asking when am I going to get over this hill??  When I hear about recurrence rate is 1 in 4, I'm thinking more like 2 in 4 maybe. 

What strategies do you do to keep this from overwhelming your thoughts?