Thinking about cancer all the time can really get to me. My mind starts racing focusing on the wrong

SuckItCancer

So I try to do a few things that I dearly love. I love gardening, when I can get outside, I love knitting, so I do that when I can't go outside, and I love to cook new things for the family when I have the energy to do it. Experimenting with new recipes keeps my mind occupied.

Do any of you do things like this? What do you pour yourself into in order to keep your mind off the bad and on the good?

po18guy

I could suggest anti-anxieties, but those cost, run out and may not work. Rather, why not look at the big picture. You love others and are loved by others. What could be better? As well, look beyond your present circumstances. Look beyond, dare I say it, this life...

GregP_WN

I have always had a pretty strong mind and positive attitude about most everything. So when cancer became a part of my life I applied the same positive attitude principles to it too. I try to focus on what I DO want in my life and OFF of what I DON'T want. It sounds easy to do but it's tougher than you might think. As for keeping myself busy, I spend a lot of time in my workshop building things.

JaneA

I have a Kindle so I read every night - that helps me go to sleep. I write, watercolors, cook and enjoy walking and exercising. I miss my Silver Sneakers classes so much. There are six of us who are cancer survivors, and we are all buddies.

An idle mind and idle fingers allow our minds to go into very dark places. The pandemic adds stress. I seldom listen to White House briefings now and don't look at the state and county statistics every day now - my anxiety levels had gotten too high.

legaljen1969

@JaneA- I know what you mean about the White House briefings and other county/state statistics. Not only do they change every day, the opinions change every day. The political attacks get worse every day. Too much finger pointing and not enough "figuring things out."

I hope you find lots to do to keep the anxiety at bay.

LiveWithCancer

I have so many hobbies and "likes" that the day ends without my accomplishing much of what is on my list. I do a lot of Bible study, personal and guided. I can spend the entire day going from one to the next and still feel like I haven't even scratched the surface of what I want to know.

I love messing around with essential oils and learning more and more about them and making chemical-free body butters, cleaning supplies, etc.

My animals are a constant delight. Even though the dogs and I have aged out of being able to do agility together, we still enjoy every moment we spend together.

I love playing with my camera ... though that particular hobby has relegated to the background lately ... painting rocks and then leaving them places to encourage those who find them ... reading ... visiting with friends (though preferably not on the telephone - I do not enjoy talking on the phone) ... going for a walk ... (and when we aren't under lockdown because of the pandemic, going to church, going out to lunch with my friends, bargain shopping ... )

These days an inordinate amount of time has been spent cooking, cleaning up, shopping for groceries and playing the lottery game to see if we're going to get much of what I have decided we need for the week ... I do not enjoy cooking, but I do like recipes and I have spent a lot of time looking at and cooking new recipes during the pandemic.

I know I'm forgetting some stuff that I let demand my time, thoughts, energy, effort, attention ... but yeah ... there's no time left over at the end of the day to spend thinking about cancer. It doesn't get more than a minute's thought if that. You, cancer, aren't worth my time, thankyouverymuch!!

Terri

I am trying to focus on the positive which actually has been hard on me. I guess I am not a positive person, but improving!

BoiseB

There are relaxation tapes available. I got mine when I was first diagnosed 10 years ago. They were in the orientation packet I was given. I still use them for pain management. Breathing exercises also work well. During social distancing it is probably difficult if not impossible to see a mental health professional, otherwise I would recommend that
Watch what you eat some foods contribute to anxiety particularly caffeine and refined sugars. Camomile tea is very calming especially when combined with lavender. You say you love to cook, why not look up what foods are anti-anxiety foods I did that so long ago I don't remember all of them. One I do remember is chicken.