Getting your confidence back

Hi everyone Being diagnosed with cancer was probably the biggest blow to my self-confidence that I've ever had. To lose that feeling of security that you have about your health, not to mention all the physical changes that surgery and treatment bring. It is a real struggle to hang onto your identity, the ideas you had about your life and what you were doing with it. It's like somebody just walked in and emptied the contents of your life into a wind tunnel and you haven't a hope of ever gathering them all back into order again. Until recently I really did not think it was possible to get my life back on track. It is just so hard to get that confidence again to start setting and achieving new goals. I kept trying though and hoped that one day I would feel strong again and a new direction would appear. I think that is the key for me. You just have to keep moving forward and finding ways to help you feel like you have some control or power over life again. For each of us that will mean different things but the important part is to acknowledge each step that you make towards your new life. Find things that help you to feel better about yourself and give yourself credit for all that you achieve, no matter how what that is. Share them with someone you love or with your friends on here, because we understand just what it takes to keep searching and trying for that new normal. I feel like I am really getting there now (diagnosed 13 May 2013) and just want to encourage others to keep beavering away at it because we all deserve to feel happy with life again after Cancer. We are so lucky to have this network to share our worries but we can really help each other to celebrate the good times too. I would love to hear what others are achieving in this struggle to get a life back after treatment ends. What is working for you? Deanne xxx