Just Got Diagnosed? How to Find Your Footing

: As a therapist who specializes in working with people facing a serious medical diagnosis, including cancer, I see many people come into my office struggling with their emotional reac­tions to their diagnosis and what it will mean for their lives. We talk about their fears and hopes about treatment, as well as all those strange and uncom­fortable feelings that keep bubbling up. And we talk about what a cancer diagnosis means for their future. This is what I tell them.

♦ Feel your feelings.
When you first received your diag­nosis, chances are your emotional foundation was shaky. Your first reac­tion may have been one of shock or numbness, not feeling much of any­thing at all. Over a period of hours, or days, the shock most likely gave way to other feelings, like disappointment, sadness, confusion, fear, anger. Your emotions may have been all over the place. And chances are you’re still dealing with a lot of emotions, de- pending on the day. The emotional reactions to a cancer diagnosis are a lot like grief. That’s be­cause a cancer diagnosis can feel like a loss. One conversation with your doctor suddenly changed the course of your life, at least for the near future. And you may feel like your life has been turned upside down.

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