Is depression/lack of interest normal at this stage?

Hi Talishte!

Yes, entirely normal. Even though the results were good, that sense of invulnerability and body integrity we all start with were attacked. You don't feel as safe in your body as you did before. And that's a scary thing. And a sad thing.

You feel what you feel! Trying to rationalize your feelings to what you "should" feel will never work.

Don't try to tell yourself how you "should" feel. You feel how you feel. Especially when you're focused on your surgery, diagnosis, future treatment plans, in fact, all things cancer related. And when you're so newly out of surgery, you keep getting reminded by pain, post surgery limitations, etc!

It's nice that your husband is trying to help...but you may want to suggest a different approach for him. He's got a point that it's hard to feel bad/sad when you smile (tell him that if you like--sounds like he's trying to help.). And sometimes you can change your feelings by changing your expression. However when your physical feelings (pain/tightness, etc.) keep pulling you back to a focus on the stuff making you sad, it's tough.

Are there some things that you two like to do together that require focus? Things that used to make you smile? If you can focus on "other stuff," it may help. And if those cancer-related thoughts float by, just firmly dismiss them and return your thoughts to the activity/things you're focusing on. Essentially, you'd be using "mindfulness" techniques to help you move your thoughts away from the cancer, etc--and back to the things that make you happy in your "life interrupted."

HTH,

LisaAlissa

eta: you might want to consider a BC group (or a therapist experienced with cancer patients) if this persists very long...

Talishte, we too agree with what the others have said. It is very normal, and we're all here for you!