| Questions Arise: Will I Live, or Will I Die? | | | | in your life. Take some time to finish or say the |
| When the doctor comes into the room to tell you | | | | things you have wanted to say and do. |
| that you have a serious illness, such as cancer, there | | | | 3)Share how you feel. Tell someone close to you |
| are a number of questions that run through your | | | | about your feelings or join a support group where |
| mind. The rush of emotions and feeling of | | | | you can share with people going through the same |
| powerlessness can be overwhelming, and learning to | | | | experience. Keep a journal to release some of the |
| cope with serious illness will take time and healing. | | | | deeper emotional pain and confusion. |
| Though everyone's healing process is different and | | | | 4)Share your experience with family and friends. Let |
| takes different amounts of time, there are some | | | | those close to you tell you how they feel and let |
| ways to help you come to peace with the changes | | | | them care for you. Let them participate in your |
| that will take place in your life. | | | | healing process. |
| One of the most difficult things for you to face | | | | 5)Find your sources of strength. For some people this |
| when coping with serious illness is the possibility of | | | | may be friends, children, inspiring music, future plans, |
| dying. Cancer patients often find themselves | | | | or faith. Seek out and rely on those sources, |
| struggling with both the idea of dying from cancer | | | | especially during the hard times. |
| and living with cancer. Though some people with | | | | 6)Set reasonable goals for yourself. Many people |
| serious illnesses tend to focus on death, learning to | | | | coping with serious illness try to push themselves too |
| cope with serious illness means keeping your focus | | | | hard to recover. Embrace your current capabilities and |
| on living with the illness. | | | | do what you can each day to grow a little stronger. |
| Living with the Illness Means Changes in Lifestyle | | | | 7)Remain hopeful. Find the things that give you an |
| Even though you are learning to focus on living with | | | | appreciation of life. Sometimes this involves getting in |
| cancer, you will also have to face the fact that your | | | | touch with nature. Other people coping with serious |
| life is going to change. For many people, this can be | | | | illness find it in pets or children. |
| as difficult as the thought of dying, because in a way | | | | 8)Use the power of your breath. Taking time to do |
| you are facing the death of your old way of life. | | | | slow and deep breathing allows your body and mind |
| Anytime our lives change profoundly, we often feel a | | | | to relax. You bring space into your being for tensions |
| deep sense of loss. | | | | and toxins to leave, and for healing to have a place |
| So, how do you deal with that sense of loss and | | | | to settle in. |
| cope with serious illness? There are some key | | | | 9)Know that you are re-defining yourself and your |
| suggestions that people who have shared the same | | | | life. You have the chance to change your priorities |
| experiences with serious illness have to help you | | | | and embrace what is most meaningful to you. |
| cope: | | | | Learning to cope with serious illness is not always the |
| 1)Take a review of your life. Think about how you | | | | easiest road, but it can bring you to a place of |
| overcame difficult situations before and use it to help | | | | healing and peace. Taking care of yourself |
| you in this situation. Think about the good things in | | | | emotionally, physically, and spiritually puts you on |
| your life versus the bad so that you know what | | | | balanced path where you can re-create your life in |
| changes you want to make. | | | | ways that are healthier and with more purpose. |
| 2)Take an inventory of things left unsaid and undone | | | | |