Can people survive wtih no emotional support?

We are terribly sorry for what you have, and are, going through. Perhaps talking with a therapist could be helpful. Marriage therapy could be another option. Have you considered speaking directly with your family about everything that has happened? Maybe starting with your sister. It sounds like an open discussion could be helpful, along with some apologies on all sides. 

This sounds like a very stressful situation, and would be healthiest for you to try to find resolution, or closure. 

We are thinking of you!!
The Mods

Kayce,

I am so sorry what you are going through.

I have similar problems.

My twin has cut me off...and to be honest, I am now glad she is out of my life, as it is "all about her". My dad passed last year, he would be behind me 100%.

My mom has a lot of physical problems and some mental. She lives two hours away. She does not acknowledge my disease. Don't know if it is just denial. I won't discuss it with her, there is no point. I am "stuck" with my husband at home, and things are status quo. I do all the work, he does essentially nothing.



Please know you are not alone. (Not that those words are what you want to hear)

I wish you all the best.

Pat

Kayce, Thanks for your bravery in posting all this and for opening the door on this topic.

I am convinced we can and will survive under our emotionally stressful circumstances. It helped me a lot that when I was very sick I saw Sharon Osborne's biography. When she was in the depths of chemo the rest of her life was completely turned upside down. Ozzy was on drugs and physically and emotionally abusive. Her children were engaged in active addiction and not there for her. And so went the same for the rest of her network. She even had Ozzy put in jail for abuse. Yet she celebrated her 10-year cancerversary. Strange what helps us! But that helped me. I lost my lifetime best friend - we spoke nearly every day - often multiple times a day for over 25 years. I had to walk away from the friendship as she was cruelly blaming me for me cancer and suggesting I not take treatment of any kind because SHE didn't believe in it. She believes in dying or holistic health - not even surgery. That coupled with other things we were going through caused me to walk away with no contact from my lifetime "sister." Also, during my treatment my dad passed away - ended up in the hospital the day after I told my mom about my diagnosis. I had told him first. One look at me with no hair and he was so sick he couldn't speak. It literally sparked the end of his life. The list goes on and on. My boyfriend has serious post-traumatic stress from activy military duty and growing up with a very physically and mentally abusive father who preys on weakness. He took these same mental behaviors and started turning on me. While he never abused me physically, it caused me massive emotional distress throughout my recovery. My mom also fell into Alzheimer's after my diagnosis. She had still been living independently with my dad and after he passed, she went downhill quickly and is now in an Alzheimer's facility. I watched my beloved family homestead divided up and sold to pay my mom's bills at the facility. And the list goes on. I truly did not want to live at many points in the past 15-months. I hung on and stayed with it because it is the kind of person I am. I just can't let anyone down that way. I can't let myself down that way. I hung on just in case somehow things might turn out OK. I further suffered greatly concerned all the stress would make it impossible for me to heal. I was under ridiculous daily stress as I am also the sole breadwinner in my relationship. But, I decided that this is my journey and it is what it is. I am making the best of it. I do believe I would be in a much better place all around without all these stressful things. But here I am. I too am helped by taking positive steps. I ran in a 5k for The Lynn Cancer Institute - where I am being treated. I showed up all alone and did it. I will keep taking positive steps despite what else is going on. I can say that cancer has truly helped me find my voice. When I feel it, I say it. I don't hold it in - even if my boyfriend is being controlling, mean, threatening to leave...whatever. I'm not afraid of any of that. I do get counseling at the cancer center and it definitely has helped. So has exercise, diet, and doing my best at work. I won't mess up my life anymore than it already is. I'm taking it back!

Nel, I like your attitude and outlook on life. Many (most) would tell me to walk away from my boyfriend of 5 years. I almost have many times. But, they don't understand what it is like to love someone with legitimate post-traumatic stress syndrome. When he is "in it", I really really hate it. But most of the time he is holding my hand at chemo, helping me talk to my doctors, looking out for alternative care ideas for me, etc. Unfortunately, this other side comes out too. Maybe there will be a day where it's too much and I walk away. Right now I take the good with the bad knowing that I too have plenty of issues I bring to the table. 

hang in there kayce!!!!!!!!!!

Kayce, I've been wondering how you're doing and if you're learning anything helpful you can do in your situation.

With great difficulty. How are you doing today? We have much in common.