1. Only think about things that are true, (what is really real.) Many cancer patients worry about the "unknown." There is no way to know the future. Guessing only makes things worse. Think only on things that are true. No what ifs! If a "what if" thought comes into your head, replace it with something that is true.
2. Focus on TODAY. Spend your energy on getting through today. You can deal with tomorrow when tomorrow gets here. Live day by day, and enjoy the good days. Even if it is a bad day, thank God you are still breathing! Find something to be thankful for! Every day!
3. Remind yourself daily that each day is only temporary. If today is tough, it will be over. You will be surprised at how fast your treatment will go.
4. Tell yourself that you CAN do today, every single day!
5. Say NO. You now have a license to say no to all the busy things in life that crowd in on you. No one will think any less of you if you pull back. For those of us who are people pleaser's, this is a gift! Think of your illness as a vacation from obligations and pressures to be a super hero. You can be a super hero from the couch. Your body is fighting for it's life!
5. Say YES! When someone offers to help, take it! For some folks, this is one of the hardest parts of coping with a major illness. Most of us, whether we admit it or not, like to have control. Letting go of your control is a hard lesson. Make a list of a few things that you can continue to maintain control of. Then make a list of things that you can let other people do. This is a must. Letting others into your life will show strength rather than weakness. We are sometimes afraid to seem weak to others. This is a time to let others into your life to help, partly because you need it, but also because your family and friends need it. The benefits will grow far beyond you alone. Trust me! When you let go and give others a chance to help, you are taking focus off yourself, not the other way around.
6. Realize that this is an opportunity! We can do one of two things in times like these, use it, or waste it. Let it grow you! Let it work for you. What you gain can actually be worth the trouble. Don't let it make you bitter. You do not want to be a cranky old man or woman when you grow up!
7. Learn something new. Occupy your mind with a new thing. I picked up crochet and made a baby blanket for a friend during my chemo treatment. Get online, learn to play solitaire, play the piano or guitar, take an online class, anything goes.
8. LISTEN! God is probably trying to get your attention. He loves you deeply, and wants to be closer to you. Don't reject His attention. You should be grateful for the opportunity He is giving you to examine yourself, and nurture your relationship with Him. If you don't have a relationship with Him, you need one!
I can help you know how that works on my web-log.... http://www.raisingyourchildren.net/gift of lifeGoing through treatment for cancer varies from patient to patient. We all have different coping mechanisms and coping skills of one sort or another. The above strategies are all things I did during my ordeal with cancer. I disciplined myself in the above actions. The way that I retained control of my life was to control my thinking and how I was going to let this experience affect me. I was not going to bow down to it, but master it! My greatest resource was God the Father of Heaven and Earth, the God of the bible, in which all of the above principles can be found. The bible is not old fashioned, but relevant to everything in our human lives!Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tina_Marantette
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