Talking About Cancer

"(F)or friends and family it is important to know where our boundaries are - when we should step back, and when we should step in. It's hard to know what is right or wrong - there often just isn't that defining line. It is more a matter of respecting personal space, and understanding that it's all a learning curve."

Emotions

"Understanding your emotions after a cancer diagnosis can be crucial to moving forward."

Laugh!

"In times of pain, frustration, and anger, sometimes the best medicine is laughter."

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Emotions

Posted by at 9:35 AM 0 comments
Obviously there are all kinds of emotions associated with getting a diagnosis of cancer. Most of us can empathize, but unless you're in that situation it is difficult to really understand the feelings a person experiences.
And, it can be frustrating to try to find the words to explain how you're feeling to others.

Cancerbackup writes:

A diagnosis of cancer often means we experience a whole range of emotions. These may include shock, anxiety, sadness, relief, uncertainty and for some people, depression. This section gives information on some of the emotions you may have and aims to help you manage them. It includes suggestions of how you can help yourself as well as other sources of help and support.



On the left side of this page you will see a list of emotions one may experience when dealing with a cancer diagnosis. If nothing else, the coping strategies they discuss may help you through this time...and help you feel understood, and less alone.

"STAY POSITIVE!"
This is impossible to do at the best of times - all the time. It's perfectly natural, and normal to feel awful, and depressed. When someone tells you to remain positive all the time, it can be frustrating:

Positive thinking means different things to different people. However, generally it is about facing up to the situation, and finding ways of coping with it. People do this in many ways. What works for one person may not work for another.

When you talk to people with cancer, even the most positive of them will admit to low times when they felt depressed and anxious. No one can be positive 100% of the time. It’s important that you don’t feel that you must always stay on top of things. Being positive doesn’t mean having to feel happy and cheerful all the time. It’s a positive thing to acknowledge and talk about your feelings – even when you’re feeling tired, worried, depressed or angry.
There may be times when you want to talk about a difficult topic like the chance of the cancer being cured or making a will. Comments about being positive are then not always helpful - in fact, they can be very upsetting.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Thank you!

Posted by at 6:53 PM 2 comments
I see some serious ad clicking going on - thanks!

I'm going to be a little quiet on the website in the next week or so - though I do have an update going up tomorrow.

Please keep visiting, and spread the word on IBC!!!

Anita :)

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Laugh!

Posted by at 9:39 AM 0 comments

Without a doubt, laughter is the best medicine. Here are some of the ways in which laughter helps us health-wise:

Hormones: Laughter reduces the level of stress hormones like cortisol, epinephrine (adrenaline), dopamine and growth hormone. It also increases the level of health-enhancing hormones like endorphins, and neurotransmitters. Laughter increases the number of antibody-producing cells and enhances the effectiveness of T cells. All this means a stronger immune system, as well as fewer physical effects of stress.

Physical Release: Have you ever felt like you "have to laugh or I'll cry"? Have you experienced the cleansed feeling after a good laugh? Laughter provides a physical and emotional release.

Internal Workout: A good belly laugh exercises the diaphragm, contracts the abs and even works out the shoulders, leaving muscles more relaxed afterward. It even provides a good workout for the heart.

Social Benefits of Laughter: Laughter connects us with others. Also, laughter is contagious, so if you bring more laughter into your life, you can most likely help others around you to laugh more, and realize these benefits as well. By elevating the mood of those around you, you can reduce their stress levels, and perhaps improve the quality of social interaction you experience with them, reducing your stress level even more!


(from About)

And speaking of contagious laughter, skypelaughterchain.com put together a montage of clips; people laughing in response to other people laughing. They did this, of course, to promote Skype, but also to show how social media works by bringing people together, and sharing in the one human thing we all love to do: laugh.

It's okay to laugh. It's GOOD to laugh. Sometimes laughter really is the best medicine.

 

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