Dealing with anxiety?

[Shar0n]

Following on from recent posts in another thread I would like to ask for tips on dealing with the inevitable anxiety that comes with living with a relapsing remitting type illness such as NHL.

I doubt whether anyone has it all together on this one including myself. I find mindful exercises that keep me in the present or bring me back to it when I am drifting into worry about the future, are helpful.(Can I suggest a simple and straightforward book that I have found useful: The Five Minute Meditator by Eric Harrison. It's written in plain English and has no spiritual references, just practical tips for switching your mind into the present that can work for anyone.)

Anyway- to get back to my question - any tips for dealing with relapse/progression anxiety?

[Josie2rulrs]

Unfortunately anxiety is ever present in what we have and almost half the battle...I will look up your booklet.

[BelindaTupper]

What works for me is staying busy with positive things. If I feel anxiety creeping in, I need to get organized with my time. If I don't have a "commitment" I'll find myself sitting and brooding over too many things.....that happened this weekend because it rained and I didn't want to be out in the torrential rain....should have put on rubber boots and gone outside...but I didn't, sadly. Stay busy, stay positive!

[Am-I-Healed]

I just try to keep busy with the things I love to do. I am a stained glass artist, and that keeps me motivated. Also, stepping outside of myself by taking care of my husband (who doesn't really need it, but obliges me) and having lunch with friends a couple of times a week really helps. If I lived closer to a nursing home I would volunteer with elderly. The main point is doing the things you love, living in the moment, and getting enough rest....

[TezzM]

Just when I think I'm on top of it, around comes the tests prior to visiting the Heamatologist. Had blood taken and CT scan, now I wait until July 3rd for results. Fingers crossed

[Shar0n Volunteer in reply to TezzM]

Hi TezzM, Good luck with your results. I don't think we ever really get on top of it but we just learn with experience to manage the anxious times a little better. My coping strategies are trying to stay in the present as much as I can and focusing on eating well and getting a bit of exercise - even if it's only stretching exercises every day. Being active and stretching help the blood and lymph to keep moving. Let us know how you get on.

[jack23]

Hi, I think the thought of relapse is always lurking in the back of our minds, but perhaps we do not need to be as anxious as those who have never received the dreaded diagnosis. After all, we have dealt with it before and we can do it again if need be. Remember the old expression "I will cross that bridge when I come to it."

[Dlindquist54]

For me just moving from checkups every 3 month to every 4 months helped. Also I attended a cancer support group with a focus on exercise really helped me😁.

I've been in long term recovery from alcohol and drugs so support groups, culture activity as American Indian have been helpful for sure😉

[Dlindquist54 in reply to Dlindquist54]

Last appt. I moved from every 4 months to every 6 month oncology appts. And no yearly CT scan🎈🎈🎈

[Dlindquist54]

I forgot to mention having learned 4X4 breathing... breath in to the count of 4, hold to count of 4. Breath out to count of 4, hold to count of 4. I don't know if it's because we hold our breath when we are anxious so need the oxygen or if it just takes my mind off what I'm anxious about. It helps.

[1Anj1]

What my brother did was remove all the things that worried him!

He wrote a will, changed his working hours and conditions, spoke to friends and family, etc etc.

You prioritise the truly important and get doing it.

Once you get to around 5 year remission mark there is a good chance you will remain disease free.