Anxiety

Life is certainly turned upside down upon diagnosis! I also experienced panic attacks as so many others appear also to have done. I have never had these previously and they made me feel totally out if control and terrified. Today is day 13 since my diagnosis and day 7 from surgery, I had all my lymph nodes removed from under my left arm and a significant amount if my left breast. The anxiety attacks have stopped but the fear has not gone away. I guess I am living with it a little bit better now and able to find more time in the days where I am not thinking about the 'what ifs'. This I take as a good thing, as everyone said it gets easier. It does get easier, slowly but it does. I think we each need our own time frames to sort things in out heads. Unfortunately this is our own individual journeys which takes it's tole on our very basic psychological need of safety. Life itself feels as though it is ripped from us but as we process the information we are given, find our feet and take what control we can life again can be seen as concrete and in our hands. We are survivors no matter what our physical scars, and from what other women say about their journeys we also will be stronger and more focused emotionally on what is important. A woman I know who is on the "other side" names us as 'gutsy thrivers' we are strong and we will be stronger. Use the women on here for support, I have and it has proved so important for me. I needed to know there are others who have been through exactly what I have and that they now are strong. If you like to send me a message at anytime, sometimes some encouraging words in the middle of an attack can take the edge off and help settle the fear. Wishing you peace, Anita