Receiving a bad, or less than healthy diagnosis is going to be hard, there’s no doubt about that. No matter who you are, or how you take things, you’re going to be thrown when you hear the news – and there’s a very strong chance you’re going to stay thrown for quite a while yet!
So many thoughts can run through your head: How bad is it? What am I going to do next? How is the family going to take this? How much is treatment going to cost? How long will I even have to wait to see a specialist? All in all, it’s an extremely stressful part of life.
And so, it’s important to take news like this step by step. And to try and help you out on such a monumental journey, here are just a few little ways to help yourself cope. Walk like a baby for a little while, even if you’re a fully grown and experienced woman!
Don’t Overwhelm Yourself
The first thing to make sure of is to not overwhelm yourself. If you’re about to go through something like a lengthy cancer treatment program, you won’t want to be overloading your life with other responsibilities, even if you want to keep up with them. Sometimes you just need to take a step back and focus on yourself; it’s for the good of your health, after all.
So feel free to cut some things out of your life for the time being. Take some time off work, if you have a job. Don’t push yourself to take on tasks like shopping or long walks, even if you’re always up for them usually. This isn’t a very usual period of your life, and there’s no harm in recognising that and acting accordingly.
Take Time to Research (and take everything in!)
When you’re first diagnosed with something serious or chronic, you won’t have all the answers. You won’t be in a position to work out why things might be happening to you, or why you’re experiencing the most severe symptoms of all – and there’s a good chance your doctor won’t be able to tell you straight away either.
So go away, read up on your diagnosis, and make sure you have plenty of consultations with physicians. And take your time; you need to be able to understand what you’re learning about, and that requires dedication and patience.
And Remember, You Don’t Have to Tell Anyone!
Finally, you don’t owe anyone an explanation on your illness! It’s important to remember that your support circle should only be made up of people you choose to be there – if you don’t want to tell a close friend or family member about what you’re going through, you don’t have to ever go in-depth with them.
If you’ve just had some less than healthy news from a doctor, take it day by day. Make sure you’re doing what you need to do, and go on taking baby steps!
