Stress takes a toll on your body. That's not a good thing when you're already dealing with cancer. So how do you handle stress? Share what you do here too give others positive ideas.
Ajaya,
Hi my friend!! I hope things are finding you well!! I walk and pray. It helps not only with my body but calms my mind. Kelly
Stress, what I remember from my studying days, can be good and bad. If we didn't have "good" stress we wouldn't be able to get things done. It can be motivating. It's when stress becomes DESTRUCTIVE it needs be addressed asap. We all know the textbook answers (ie breathing exercises, productive sleep, good nutrition etc) and they can be really beneficial. But here's a few things that work for me (and my hubby when he was still alive). Humor, top of the list. Black humor especially when dealing with cancer). Dark situations can be negated with dark humor!
Stress with anger - go kick some air! Try it- flailing around on your own can be fun and the physical aspect is pure release.
Ask yourself, with this stressful situation will it bother me in 5 minutes, 5 hours, 5 days, 5 weeks, 5 months? 90% of it will not be important relatively quickly. It puts things in perspective. Also when your busy mind is stressed you'll think of 50 possible scenarios of what "could be" to fix the stressful situation. I guarantee you it'll scenario number 51! All that energy wasted.
Try and be a kiddo again. We forget to play when we become adults.
But sometimes with cancer you don't or can't muster up the energy to deal with stress in these suggested ways. My husband had moments during chemotherapy or when his pain was uncontrollable that he still felt stressed. And he told me the one thing that melted the stress away was a comfy bed, with clean crisp sheets, his favorite mellow music playing in the background and me holding his hand.
Never underestimate the power of ❤️ love.
Cat, you are full of advice that I will put to good use today. I'm in the one step at a time mode today and it feels like running a race when out of steam. One ... step ... at ... a ... time. Pay a bill, fold the laundry, write my uncle a note; somehow simple tasks keep the body/mind/machine working.
Take long walks in the woods, listen to good music. Exercise as much as possible. Helps with fatigue and pain.
Meditation and prayer! This has been a good one for me! God Bless you! https://youtu.be/pdJboY4cCl8?si=gecKk6_5RW-1kXd_