Have the blues hit this site?
I don't know whether it's my imagination because that's the space I'm in at the moment, if it's just a cyclic thing and there's a lot of us active around the 6-12mth post-diagnosis, or is there some s...
Forum Discussion
I wish more people would give themselves permission to feel crappy.
I think there's so much pressure to be 'the strong one' or 'the positive one'.
I'm actually one of those horrendously annoying positive people - even my blood group is B+! I constantly drive my kids crazy with some sort of 'make lemonade' phrase and I am incredibly fortunate that so far, I haven't been doing too badly throughout this breast cancer process - but I have totally had it with people telling me how 'amazing' I am - simply because I've been fortunate enough to continue working and living life as normal - and I keep thinking how damaging it is for people who are blue and struggling, to always hear about how 'amazing' someone is.
There's so much pressure to appear to be that 'amazing' person to the outside world. And that's why I think so many people feel that they need to show a different face to the outside world, than they feel inside. It's the same with any form of depression, anxiety or fear. The tide isn't really turning fast enough.
I am absolutely not any more amazing in any way, shape or form than anyone else that is going through this - in fact, I am way way less amazing, simply because I haven't had it so tough. The truly 'amazing' people are the many of you who struggle to get out of bed each day and somehow find the strength to still do it.
It's absolutely OK to be struggling, it's OK to be blue and it's OK to have low spirits - it's so normal! The most important thing is that if you find yourself sinking into the depths then you acknowledge it, and give yourself permission to feel that way. Then, when you're ready, to find whatever it is that works for you to gradually bring yourself into the light - however long it takes is fine.
To echo @arpie and @kezmusc - the light is there, sometimes it's just a little harder to see - and this forum is an absolute godsend - it's absolutely awesome to see how honest people are on their posts - it really helps so many people.
I think there's so much pressure to be 'the strong one' or 'the positive one'.
I'm actually one of those horrendously annoying positive people - even my blood group is B+! I constantly drive my kids crazy with some sort of 'make lemonade' phrase and I am incredibly fortunate that so far, I haven't been doing too badly throughout this breast cancer process - but I have totally had it with people telling me how 'amazing' I am - simply because I've been fortunate enough to continue working and living life as normal - and I keep thinking how damaging it is for people who are blue and struggling, to always hear about how 'amazing' someone is.
There's so much pressure to appear to be that 'amazing' person to the outside world. And that's why I think so many people feel that they need to show a different face to the outside world, than they feel inside. It's the same with any form of depression, anxiety or fear. The tide isn't really turning fast enough.
I am absolutely not any more amazing in any way, shape or form than anyone else that is going through this - in fact, I am way way less amazing, simply because I haven't had it so tough. The truly 'amazing' people are the many of you who struggle to get out of bed each day and somehow find the strength to still do it.
It's absolutely OK to be struggling, it's OK to be blue and it's OK to have low spirits - it's so normal! The most important thing is that if you find yourself sinking into the depths then you acknowledge it, and give yourself permission to feel that way. Then, when you're ready, to find whatever it is that works for you to gradually bring yourself into the light - however long it takes is fine.
To echo @arpie and @kezmusc - the light is there, sometimes it's just a little harder to see - and this forum is an absolute godsend - it's absolutely awesome to see how honest people are on their posts - it really helps so many people.