Getting a cancer diagnosis is devastating. If you plan on going through treatment, the road ahead can be paved with difficulties as well. How do you even begin to start the healing process, and how can you find peace through such a heavy experience? You can help yourself heal physically, mentally and spiritually by taking these important tips to heart.
Tackling Physical Pain and Discomfort
When you have cancer, you’re not only dealing with the seriousness of your diagnosis. You’re also dealing with physical pain and discomfort that can prevent you from truly enjoying your life. These symptoms, including headaches, muscle soreness, and nausea, can occur as a result of the disease itself or can show up as side effects to various cancer treatments.
During this time, finding ways to care for yourself is of the utmost importance. Live Science suggests looking for exercise routines that take your fatigue and comfort levels into consideration. Also, taking proper care of your gut health can help your immune system fight cancer, notes Medical News Today. Whenever possible, adjust your diet so that you’re consuming more probiotic and prebiotic foods. For probiotic foods, incorporate more pickles and pickled vegetables, yogurt, sourdough bread, and fermented items into your meals. For prebiotic foods, stick to legumes, apples, onions, leeks and garlic. Of course, before you begin any exercise or diet changes, make sure you talk things over with your doctor.
Addressing Emotional Pain
It’s normal for those impacted by cancer to experience a wide array of emotions. For example, those diagnosed with breast cancer have reported feelings of anxiety over their diagnosis and treatment. You may also experience depression. Consider reaching out to a licensed counselor who has experience with cancer patients, as well as cancer support groups.
Of course, much of the anxiety and frustration that accompanies cancer can result from your relationships, so learn how to talk about cancer with your friends and family. During these talks, it’s helpful to remember that sharing your diagnosis can be emotional for your loved ones.
Practicing Self-Care
From finding ways to relieve your pain to expressing your emotions, self-care should be at the heart of any overall cancer treatment. To really work through this time in your life and still maintain some happiness, you also need a deeper, more regular self-care regimen. Not only do you need to incorporate these habits, such as journaling and going to bed on time every night, but you absolutely deserve it.
Meditation
One of the most healing practices cancer patients can incorporate into their self-care routine is mindful meditation. Practicing daily meditation can help reduce feelings of pain, as well as promote physical and mental healing. Because cancer is often fatal, a diagnosis can make you think about your own mortality. Rather than dwell on the negative feelings, you can use meditation to find peace and understanding that will improve your quality of life. Getting started with meditation can be intimidating for some people, so use a meditation app to walk you through your sessions, and set reminders to help you maintain this healthy habit.
Music
While music cannot cure cancer, it can lessen certain symptoms and greatly reduce feelings of anxiety, depression and distress. Many people are seeing the healing benefits of music therapy as a way to help navigate the cancer journey, and you can seek out a music therapist to assist you in this process. Whether you choose to engage in music therapy or not, consider taking time every day to yourself to listen to music that soothes and calms you.
Home
It’s crucial for your home to remain a comfortable respite from the outside world. However, disarray and clutter can impede any feelings of relaxation and calm. Enlist the help of family and friends to clean up and declutter the entire house in order to bring a sense of harmony to your environment. Consider also opening more curtains or shades to let in natural light, and using an oil diffuser with appealing scents; both can imbue your space with more positivity.
Asking for Help
To make things easier on yourself and work more self-care into your routine, don’t hesitate to reach out for help — not just help with the emotional aspects, but help with day-to-day tasks that take so much more effort now. Chances are that when you have your diagnosis conversation with your loved ones, they will ask how that can help. Take them up on those offers, and ask them to come by and help you out with responsibilities around your home.
Having a friend who can help prepare meals, fold laundry or walk your dog can relieve an enormous amount of pressure and stress. If you are not comfortable asking loved ones to help, you can also hire help for home tasks.
Cancer is a devastating disease that can impact your mental, physical and spiritual wellness. But healing with cancer mentally and emotionally is not impossible. Easing your discomfort and dealing with treatment and its side effects takes an equally comprehensive approach. Relieving the physical pain can help heal your emotions, which in turn will bring you more spiritual wellness and balance.
Author: Camille Johnson
Read more from Camille: Healing While Grieving with Simple, Healthy Goals