HEALTHY BODY, HEALTHY MIND
When things are happening to your body that you have no say over you can feel pretty out of control at times. This can send your mind into overdrive and have a detrimental effect on your mood.
It's time to take some control back by looking after your mental health and well-being.
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There's a quote that I love and I've had it on my desk for around five or six years now and more recently it's become more of a mantra for me:
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"You change your thoughts and you change your world"
- Normal Vincent Peale -
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So stop being defined by your diagnosis and no longer will you be suffering from cancer but you will start living along side it!!
What can I do to help my mental well-being?
Talk
Talking to others around you will help you get things off your chest, get things in perspective and let others know how you’re feeling. But it can also be a great distraction!! The people we normally chat to are our close friends and family, but when life hits the fan these can sometimes be the hardest people to talk to and if that’s the case then find others – your Macmillan nurse, someone on social media or ask if your GP or the people looking after your care offer a counselling service.
Don’t talk
Take some time out. If you need to then shut yourself away, shut down social media and turn your phone off. It’s okay to get some ‘me’ time... just don’t become a hermit.
Move more
Regular exercise will fire up those endorphins, the feel-good chemicals that can act as the body’s happiness boosters and hey, who doesn’t need a little extra happiness in their lives?!. It can also help boost your self-esteem, mental health, it can help you sleep, and generally feel better. Exercise keeps the brain and your other vital organs healthy... you’re going to need this if you’re going for surgery, so give yourself the best chance possible.
Eat well
Your body needs a mix of nutrients in order to stay healthy and function as it should. A diet that’s good for your body is also good for your mental health. If you have been diagnosed with oesophageal cancer then you will probably know all too well that eating can be a struggle so getting your head around your diet is vital. I’m going to be posting some recipes that I’ve found helps.
Drink sensibly
I’m not going to lie, I do enjoy a drink but when you get a diagnosis like cancer you kind of have to have a little rethink... or a big rethink for some! I won’t labour the point but we often drink to help us change our mood but when the effects wear off alcohol can have a negative effect on our mood. Lecture over!!
Ask for help
As alone as you may feel alone sometimes, you’re not! You will need to ask others for help and guess what... when things get bad people want to help!! So use that extra pair of hands, use those listening ears and use that shoulder to cry on. It’s okay not to be okay!! People to ask for help include friends, family, your Macmillan nurse, your manager among others.
Take a break
Sometimes you just need to get away, and that’s fine. It doesn’t have to be a fancy holiday or even a cheap get away. Sometimes just a break from the norm can have a huge impact. So go for a walk, go the cinema, visit an old friend, visit a new friend, ask if there are any voluntary positions at your local donkey sanctuary! :-)
Keep a routine
I know this contradicts the last point but sometimes the control of having a regular routine can feel incredibly comforting and can offer us some safe boundaries. And if that’s what you need then that’s fine. I continue to go into work until my treatment starts because that is something that helps me. It’s all a personal thing.
Meditate
The word meditate can freak people out. They think it’s something religious or spiritual but that’s not the case. Try this: Sit in a comfortable chair with the palms of your hands on your lap. Close your eyes and take a breath in through your nose to the count of four. Notice how the air is cool against the inside of your nostrils. Hold the breath for a count of four. Release the breath slower than you did breathing it in to a count of 8. Notice how the breath has been warmed by the heat of your body. Hold your breath for a count of 2 and repeat the breathing exercise. Guess what, you’ve just started meditating. It might take a while to quieten your mind but it will get easier in time.
Do something you’re good at
We all have things we’re good at whether it’s running, drawing, fishing, knitting, cooking, helping others or just your doing your job. Well whatever it is... do that! Doing things we’re good at and doing them well gives us a sense of fulfilment and can give us a sense of comfort and grounding.
Accept where you are
This can be the hardest thing... accepting where you are right now. Don’t think about what has happened in the past and don’t think about what could happen in the future. Live in the present and accept that you have cancer and at the moment cancer is a part of you. Having a diagnosis of cancer is a huge challenge in so many different ways so go easy on yourself.