Hello everyone. I just started the program last week and am about to finish session 1. Learning much about myself. Like the one woman in session 1, I think I have been experiencing very mild depression since childhood, but finally realized it (I'm 47 years old). I have also had mild OCD since childhood. Not too much in the way of anxiety - never a panic attack, but have woken up from a sound sleep with worry. Off and on insomnia the past few years.

A couple of challenges I'm going to face include my job - I manage engineering projects in a very dysfunctional group. This poses new challenges everyday including the need to be analytical and the relentless pressure from management (working for a control freak VP). The other challenge is dealing with the fact that I was diagnosed with prostate cancer just about two years ago. I had surgery so I seem to be in the clear, but I am still being monitored closely. Having blood tests every 3-4 months creates so much anxiety. This coupled with obsessive thinking is not a good combination. Additionally, I am experiencing side effects which has caused some pretty severe mood swings (especially since my wife and I became empty nesters during this time period when both daughters left within the same year). The only saving grace is that all indications suggest the side effects are emotional, not physical.

As I go through this program, it would be wonderful to hear encouraging news/get advise from cancer survivors dealing with the emotional issues. On a brighter note, as part of dealing with the cancer I incorporated a complete dietary make-over, which is a component of this program. As a word of encouragement, the dietary changes have brought profound positive physical changes (and prior to surgery, emotional changes as well).

I too am a cancer survivor (finished chemo 2/29/08) and my job sucks right now. Feeling your pain.

I'm not a survivor, but was a caregiver for my husband. He lost the battle to leukemia about 4 1/2 years ago.

I think that adds to my issues. Our children were young at the time. Ten and seven. I spend every day wondering if I'm doing a good job raising them or not.

I look forward to getting my package any day now.

blessings to you both!

Mim

Steve, doggielover and MimK

I received a death sentence about seven years ago. When I was told I had no chance of living through the cancer I started using my mind because living was the only choice I would accept. I used an alternative treatment 6 months after the diagnosis and have been cancer free since. This proved the power of my thoughts.

I have also had high stress jobs and thought that I did not have anxiety until I started the course. What an education. I really think I created all of the health problems which include diabetes for 30 yrs. and crippling arthritis which I also do not have any more.

Now I excercise, eat right, drink water and most of all am changing my thoughts. It is a whole new world for me. I did not know it could be so good.

I also have to credit my old dog Shadow for being at my side through the cancer and my new dog Sadie for keeping my daily walking program going. Their unconditional love is a blessing.

MimK I am so sorry to hear about your husband, I also watched my father go through cancer it is devistating.

All we can do is look for the good and expect the best to come.

We write our own life story by what we think about.

Nice to meet all of you and I look forward to talking with you again.

Kevin

Thanks everyone for the responses. Doggielover, I hope you are doing well and have a full recovery. It is incredibly difficult going through this while working. With this program I am hoping to get the confidence to branch out into a new field and learn better coping skills.

MimK you must be a strong woman. I see what I have put my wife through, she has been my rock. With our kids, we always stressed self-esteem and played more parent than friend - it was clear who ran the house. I think this helped them grow up to be well rounded, very productive individuals.

Kevin, I'm so glad to hear of your success beating cancer and in the method you used. Your story gets to one of the roots of my problem. I firmly believe in holistic, natural healing and I was on the road to recovery naturally when I paniced and succumbed to the pressure of the medical industry and my family. So now I live with the much regret and the darn "should have's." Brief history:
12/1/06 diagnosed
mid dec 2006 started alternative cure with guidance. Felt fantastic both mentally and physically after making drastic dietary changes (I've always worked out/run) - at times actually forgot I had cancer.
1/20/07 had alternative test done - ultrasound of prostate - showed two small tumors (original biopsy only detected one). I was crushed (emotionally haven't been the same since), questioned the alternative approach and scheduled my surgery, but stayed with alternative approach.
2/14/07 had surgery. Up until this point my PSA was steadily declining - a very good sign.
Post-op urologist made a point to tell me there was only one tumor. Where did the other one go? Did I make the wrong decision? Should have stayed with alternative approach.

For full recovery, I need to shake these feelings and the emotional baggage. Now, of course, my frequent check-ups cause anxiety.

quote:

Originally posted by MimK:
I'm not a survivor, but was a caregiver for my husband. He lost the battle to leukemia about 4 1/2 years ago.

I think that adds to my issues. Our children were young at the time. Ten and seven. I spend every day wondering if I'm doing a good job raising them or not.

I look forward to getting my package any day now.

blessings to you both!

Mim

I'm sorry to hear about your husband, but i am sureyou do a wonderful job raising your children.

Steve,
Sounds like we have a lot in common. If you would like to talk shoot me an email with contact info.

Kevin- kvnharp@yahoo.com

Hi Steve07...my sister is a survivor of cancer X6 years this Spring! She is very close to me and I went through every chemo and every hospitalization with her. I thought I was her rock and thought I was the one holding her up...turns out she is my rock and has taught me everything I know about living! She has 4 small kids and went through her cancer with such grace. A truley remarkable person. She still gets very anxious before her checkups. She also goes to her oncologist several times a year. I'm not so sure this is something that will ever be easy. You both are very young, my sister is 47 y/o and like I said, has 4 young kids. Life can be so hard sometimes and we have a tendency as human beings to become afraid every now and again over past stressful events such as cancer.

I wish you peace and good health,
Lynn