Bravely

Cancer, is a disease so dreaded by people. The very mention of its name is enough to make you feel daunted and disappointed. It is not just a physical but also an emotionally draining battle that affects a person’s well-being. Negative emotions, including fear, depression, and anger, can severely affect cancer patients’ lives. 

In this blog post, we will discuss how these pessimistic thoughts and feelings can impact the well-being of a cancer warrior.

Fear of Diagnosis

The mention of a diagnosis can be equally daunting. With this fear comes anxiety about the unknown and treatment outcomes. The cancer journey is a rollercoaster where a person moves to and fro between hope and despair. It comes with some triggering existential questions that set the emotional journey ahead for a cancer warrior.

Feelings of Uncertainty and Anxiety

During the trauma recovery journey, it is normal to feel anxious and feeling unsure about the future. You might be stuck by unending questions like: “Will the treatment go right? How will my family cope with this? Will cancer be cured completely?” It is normal for your mind to be filled with ‘what ifs’ and ‘how’. This overthinking can affect your physical health as well.

Impact of Cancer on Physical Health

Prolonged anxiety, depression, and stress may hinder the immune system, making it more difficult for the body to fight off infections and recover from injuries. Furthermore, studies indicate that emotional distress may impact biological mechanisms like inflammation and DNA repair to affect how quickly cancer progresses.

Silent Struggle of Isolation

It is quite common for cancer patients to find themselves in a position where they have to fight depression. The physical and emotional effects of cancer including the treatment can wear down even the strongest spirits. You might feel sad and hopeless due to the everyday suffering caused by the disease. Moreover, the sense of isolation causes emotional distress and intensifies feelings of loneliness. But you should also remember that you are not alone in this journey. There will be people who will support groups for breast cancer. Reading about people who have found a similar battle like you can help you gain confidence and raise some hope of living.

Feeling of Resentment

There might come a time when cancer patients can feel betrayed by their bodies. With it comes, the loathing feeling of pain and suffering. Knowing that you don’t have any power over your health can make you hit rock bottom with feelings of frustration.

Wrapping Up

It is pretty normal to have negative emotions when battling against a tough opponent, cancer. The best thing to do in such a situation is to acknowledge and address these emotions. We at Be Big & Brave urge healthcare providers to encourage their cancer patients to feel their emotions and find out what coping strategies work for them. 

Remember, you are not alone in this journey!

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“You have cancer”.

The moment a breast cancer warrior hears this, they experience a sudden mix of feelings. Fear, uncertainty, and emotional turmoil are some of the feelings that haunt them. However, with all these feelings, there’s a ray of hope called courage. This can empower them to travel through the twists and turns that come their way during the healing process of cancer. Courage enables a person to acknowledge the reality of their situation and embrace their journey while healing from trauma with unwavering determination.

Accepting the Disease

The very first step in the cancer journey is being able to accept the ailment. It requires an extraordinary level of courage to accept and face the shock. The process is overwhelming and comes with passive rejection of reality. It is at this point when courage plays a vital role in guiding a breast cancer warrior.

Enduring Treatment 

Throughout the tough cancer treatment process, courage is the most needed thing. Every stage of the process, from radiation therapy to chemotherapy, operations to experimental treatments, demands a tremendous amount of bravery. But in the middle of these hardships, courage shows itself as the unwavering will to keep going and to cling to hope against all odds.

Emotional Turmoil

The healing process of cancer is filled with devastating emotions in addition to physical struggles. Breast cancer warriors experience a range of emotions, including fear, anger, sadness, and uncertainty. Courage serves as a beacon of emotional resilience in these situations. It takes bravery to face anxieties, show vulnerability, and ask family, friends, and experts for help. 

Support to Caregivers

Friends, family, and caretakers of breast cancer warriors also need courage. Patients receive support and comfort from their friends and family during trauma recovery. Witnessing sorrow and suffering requires much courage, yet these acts of kindness and encouragement perfectly capture the human spirit's endurance.

Redefining Perspectives

Courage allows people to reframe their thoughts on life and living while enduring the difficulties of cancer. It makes people think about what's really important, such as savoring the present, finding happiness in the little things, and accepting newly established priorities. Courage inspires people to live fully, authentically, and purposefully in the face of mortality, overcoming the limitations of disease.

Conclusion

While the journey through cancer is daunting, courage is a guiding force to heal and stay strong through it all. It is not just restricted to a breast cancer warrior but extends to the family members as well who witness their loved one go through the healing process. Be Big & Brave takes this chance to honor those cancer warriors who show profound strength every day while going through the diagnosis. We hope to see you on the other side, healthy and happy.

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“People who tend to suppress their negative emotions regularly might start to see their world in a more negative light.” 

                                                         - Susan Cain, American Writer, and Lecturer

Negative emotions are unpleasant feelings like sadness, anger, or fear that can turn harmful when too intense or persistent. These emotions when unregulated can result in depression, causing adverse effects on your daily activities. 

According to WHO, over 264 million people worldwide, of various age groups, suffer from depression.

What an alarming number, isn’t it? This is the reason why it is essential to learn how to release negative emotions and work on gaining inner peace.

In this article, we will explore how you can make this possible and live a content life!

Possible Causes of Negative Emotions

There can be multiple reasons for negative emotions to build up. It's essential to identify the cause and work towards resolving it to stay at peace. We have listed some common causes that most people point to:

Overthinking about things that are not under your control

You might find yourself stressing over situations beyond your control. It's crucial in such moments to remind yourself that the best course of action is to let go. Moreover, how we choose to react to these situations can either empower us or hold us back.

Comparing yourself to others

In the digital era, where people are obsessed with showing off their lavish and all-happy lives, it is quite natural to have a feeling of self-doubt. But you need to remember that comparing your life with others will only leave you with a bitter feeling.

Repeating the negative thing said by others in your head

Do you find your mind clogged with the negative conversations you had with a person? When you keep thinking about their words, it can make you feel sad and hurt. In such situations, you need to remember that their words do not define you in any way.

4 Ways To Release Negative Emotions & Cultivate Inner Peace

You'll become more resilient, happy, and fulfilled in life as you learn to let go of unpleasant emotions and develop inner peace. Let’s explore these methods together.

Acknowledge the Negative Emotions with a Coffee Break

When hit with negative emotions, the best thing you can do is grab a cup of warm coffee. And what's better to do is serve it in Be Big and Brave's Inspirational Coffee Mug!

While coffee itself has stress-reducing properties, confronting negative emotions promotes validation, awareness, prevention of escalation, healing, and resilience. Enjoying coffee in inspirational coffee mugs can be a comforting and grounding ritual that enhances the experience of confronting and processing emotions, altogether.

Engage in Physical Activities

Taking part in a variety of exercises can help release unpleasant emotions for trauma recovery. It includes any type of physical activity that gets the body moving, such as jogging, walking, cycling, swimming, dancing, or yoga. Your body releases endorphins during these physical activities, which have the dual benefits of improving mood and acting as natural painkillers. 

Spend Quality Time with Friends & Family

Prioritise spending time with loved ones when you're feeling down; it's a great method to let go of negative emotions. Being around people you love gives you the chance to be truly yourself, to share your ideas and emotions, and to get empathy and compassion in return. This can offer a sense of validation and belonging while also easing emotions of tension, anxiety, and loneliness.

Develop a Positive Mindset

Adopting a perspective that emphasizes optimism, thankfulness, resilience, healing from trauma, and self-compassion is necessary to cultivate a positive mindset.

You can use a variety of methods and routines to cultivate a happy outlook on life like:

• Gratitude Practice
• Positive Affirmations
• Mindfulness Meditation
• Reframing Negative Thoughts
• Practice Self-Compassion

Believe It, You Are Bigger Than Your Problems

Achieving inner peace and letting go of unpleasant emotions can significantly improve your quality of life. It can uplift your mood, lessen the symptoms of depression, and improve your general mental and emotional health. 

Remember, your mental health is your responsibility. When confronted with negative emotions, don't hesitate to reach out for help. Stay connected with Be Big and Brave to receive more such tips to enrich your life.

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