A pilot study of 10 women with post breast cancer lymphedema reported concern over the betrayal of their body, abandonment of medicine (unsympathetic doctors, limited knowledge or conflicting information provided), concealing an imperfect body image through inadequate clothing or elastic sleeves, and managing the interruption of a normal flow of life.
A lot of us can relate to the above quote perhaps a little more than we would like to. Having lymphedema can be so disruptive to your life that sometimes you can’t help but get bogged down by it. That’s the nature of a chronic condition – some days you have it under control, and other days you’re completely overwhelmed.
When you’re feeling down, it’s easy to engage in harmful or negative coping mechanisms, such as denial or substance abuse. It feels much easier to not deal with the issue rather than to confront it, let alone acknowledge that it exists. These routes are unhealthy and can potentially harm you in the long run – something I’m sure I don’t need to tell you!
So how do you cope? Click “more” to continue reading..
