 | Having a diagnosis of an illness or life threatening disease can be very confronting for many of us. We can get much needed supportive advice from our medical practitioners and specialists. We also have modern technology at our fingertips, however, the overload of information the internet has available on illness and disease can send many into anxiousness in believing the worst case scenario. |
Then there are the friends and family who want to help and give advice with good intentions but quite often make the situation worse through their own fears.
I had such a diagnosis twelve months ago, which was initially shocking and my GP told me that I should prepare for the next twelve to eighteen months to be a very difficult time. For the next twenty four hours anxiety set in – how would I work, how would I pay my mortgage and medical bills? Would I lose my job and would I lose my home?
Friends and family were super loving, but initially I went into complete reaction. It was the fear of living alone and knowing I would need help and where would that help come from as I had no family close by and it was the fear of not knowing what was ahead.
No one can say how the outcome or recovery will truly be, as we are all individuals. Of course we can be advised of some things that may possibly happen but it does not mean it will happen unless we allow ourselves to be caught up in a belief or an ideal that it will transpire.
Then I stopped and realised that this was me, and my body and how could it be compared to anyone else’s experience.
I told my workplace that I would not be back for at least four months and I embraced my illness as an opportunity to truly heal.
After my surgery and the chemotherapy that followed I supported my body with Esoteric Chakra Puncture and Esoteric Connective Tissue sessions, which allowed me to truly connect and feel what was going on in my body. I followed my doctor’s advice, taking pain medication so that my body was not under undue stress, and I practiced my breathing exercises and Gentle Breath Meditation. Just as important was the complete knowing that my body has its own innate intelligence and would heal in its own time.
The joy I felt to allow myself to listen to my body and to make a loving connection with it, made it easy for me to commit to make supportive and self-caring choices throughout the diagnosis, the surgery and the healing rehabilitation period.
I concentrated on listening to my body never pushing myself, if I was tired I rested, no matter what time of the day it was, and I supported my body with a diet with nourishing snacks and meals that were gluten, dairy and sugar free.
My meals were made up of easily digestible foods such as nourishing soups; slow cooked casseroles, roasts and plenty of fresh vegetables and salads.
Of course there were many emotional moments and I allowed them a free reign with grace and dignity. I had no expectations or milestones to aspire to or achieve, nor did I compare my healing and rehabilitation progress with others – this was my body and my journey to be travelled in its own pace and needs.
During my recovery I asked for help from family and friends, which was something I had never done before. I had always felt that it was imposing for me to ask for help and that others were more deserving of the help, especially when I was fully capable of doing something on my own, even if it meant that I ended up pushing my body too far.
Having this illness made me realise that there were plenty of people who wanted to help me and I allowed that to happen for the first time in my life. I needed help to cut up food, change my bed, to do my washing, cleaning and to drive me around for three months. It was a very humbling experience and one that made me realise that I was precious and I needed to take great care of myself to heal.
In twenty weeks, I was back at work on reduced hours for six weeks and gradually working back up to full time. Throughout this journey I was conscious of gently nurturing my body and not overriding what I could feel my body was telling me. Many days I would be at work for only two hours and when my body felt tired, I would honour that feeling and go home to rest. Some days I stayed home if I did not feel right to go into work.
Each day was different; I was now able to honour and value what my body was telling me, which made it an easy transition to return to work at my own pace.
It is now nine months since my operation and I feel more vital than I ever have, and I am continuing the practices I adopted during my recovery as part of my daily livingness.
Our bodies show us the truth and wisdom of who we truly are and if we listen, great healing can take place.
Susan E., Australia
I had such a diagnosis twelve months ago, which was initially shocking and my GP told me that I should prepare for the next twelve to eighteen months to be a very difficult time. For the next twenty four hours anxiety set in – how would I work, how would I pay my mortgage and medical bills? Would I lose my job and would I lose my home?
Friends and family were super loving, but initially I went into complete reaction. It was the fear of living alone and knowing I would need help and where would that help come from as I had no family close by and it was the fear of not knowing what was ahead.
No one can say how the outcome or recovery will truly be, as we are all individuals. Of course we can be advised of some things that may possibly happen but it does not mean it will happen unless we allow ourselves to be caught up in a belief or an ideal that it will transpire.
Then I stopped and realised that this was me, and my body and how could it be compared to anyone else’s experience.
I told my workplace that I would not be back for at least four months and I embraced my illness as an opportunity to truly heal.
After my surgery and the chemotherapy that followed I supported my body with Esoteric Chakra Puncture and Esoteric Connective Tissue sessions, which allowed me to truly connect and feel what was going on in my body. I followed my doctor’s advice, taking pain medication so that my body was not under undue stress, and I practiced my breathing exercises and Gentle Breath Meditation. Just as important was the complete knowing that my body has its own innate intelligence and would heal in its own time.
The joy I felt to allow myself to listen to my body and to make a loving connection with it, made it easy for me to commit to make supportive and self-caring choices throughout the diagnosis, the surgery and the healing rehabilitation period.
I concentrated on listening to my body never pushing myself, if I was tired I rested, no matter what time of the day it was, and I supported my body with a diet with nourishing snacks and meals that were gluten, dairy and sugar free.
My meals were made up of easily digestible foods such as nourishing soups; slow cooked casseroles, roasts and plenty of fresh vegetables and salads.
Of course there were many emotional moments and I allowed them a free reign with grace and dignity. I had no expectations or milestones to aspire to or achieve, nor did I compare my healing and rehabilitation progress with others – this was my body and my journey to be travelled in its own pace and needs.
During my recovery I asked for help from family and friends, which was something I had never done before. I had always felt that it was imposing for me to ask for help and that others were more deserving of the help, especially when I was fully capable of doing something on my own, even if it meant that I ended up pushing my body too far.
Having this illness made me realise that there were plenty of people who wanted to help me and I allowed that to happen for the first time in my life. I needed help to cut up food, change my bed, to do my washing, cleaning and to drive me around for three months. It was a very humbling experience and one that made me realise that I was precious and I needed to take great care of myself to heal.
In twenty weeks, I was back at work on reduced hours for six weeks and gradually working back up to full time. Throughout this journey I was conscious of gently nurturing my body and not overriding what I could feel my body was telling me. Many days I would be at work for only two hours and when my body felt tired, I would honour that feeling and go home to rest. Some days I stayed home if I did not feel right to go into work.
Each day was different; I was now able to honour and value what my body was telling me, which made it an easy transition to return to work at my own pace.
It is now nine months since my operation and I feel more vital than I ever have, and I am continuing the practices I adopted during my recovery as part of my daily livingness.
Our bodies show us the truth and wisdom of who we truly are and if we listen, great healing can take place.
Susan E., Australia