I am not sure I can explain this well enough so hope you can read around what I am trying to say about this.
I think over our lifetime pre breast cancer we built up stores of self confidence based around experiences we have had often involving interaction with others thru work , sport , social stuff including family. We grew to take for granted our invincibility.Yes I know we all get kicks along the way but fundamentally we develop self belief.
A cancer diagnosis drops the floor of confidence from under our feet and to rebuild it needs time and practice like a child learning to walk. It also needs acceptance of our new normal - be it scars , aches and pains , and even ongoing medical monitoring etc.
In the initial stages of this “repair “ work we are quite needy requiring more from family and friends . To family and friends we look the same and talk the same but we are no longer the same person we were pre diagnosis as the stuffing has been knocked out of us.That is where this blog and support groups can help as we can share with others who understand this.
A child starts out in life vulnerable and dependent but over time grows in confidence thru experiences which often include a lot of practice with falls and fumbles along the way. We can too.
