Managing the Effects of Stress

“One must not forget that recovery is brought about not by the physician, but by the sick man himself. He heals himself, by his own power, exactly as he walks by means of his own power, or eats, or thinks, breathes or sleeps.” – Georg Groddeck, The Book of the It

Excessive stress can be detrimental to anyone, but especially those with cancer.

One of the cardinal observations in stress research is that stress dysregulates the immune system. This area of research, called psychoneuroimmunology, has now established that stress causes suppression of cell-mediated immunity, which is a primary defense against metastasis.

In order to find emotional healing, we need to combat the stress that can threaten to overwhelm us. The ultimate goal is to discover the root of the problem. In order to get our minds and bodies to that point, we first need to calm ourselves and move into a position in which this deeper healing is possible.

• Meditate. Find a comfortable position. Close your eyes and imagine something calm and soothing. If you get easily distracted, it may work better to leave your eyes open and focus on an object. It does not matter what you look at or picture; it only matters that you are trying to clear your mind of distractions. Breathe in and out, slowly and calmly, through your nose. Start by doing relaxed breathing for a minute or two. Gradually work your way up. You will find that this allows your energy to flow more optimally.
• Visualization. Many athletes and business people use this technique to prepare for important events. When you have cancer, your visualization can entail an image of your cancer being processed in a healthy way and released from your body. Essentially, it’s imagining the body and mind defeating the disease. For instance, you can picture new healthy cells flowering in your body. Whatever image works for you can be helpful in giving you an image of success.
• Journal writing. Numerous studies have been done showing the enormous health benefits of journal writing. Time and again, it is shown that those undergoing trauma of some sort actually feel physically better when they write about their stress. Not only that, they have more hope and a better outlook. When you feel the most bleak, write about it. This allows your feelings to be processed and released.
• Support groups. It has been found that people suffering from cancer who join support groups live longer and have a more positive outlook concerning both their disease and their recovery. A great way to find support is online. When you are up at two in the morning worrying about test results, or when you have started a new medication that is causing insomnia, you can get online and talk about it with others. There is no time or geographical restrictions imposed, and you can find the help and support you need whenever and wherever you can. You can often develop very strong bonds with those in these chat rooms and forums. When your family and friends don’t understand, you can be assured that these people do. You can even blog about your own experiences and extend a helping hand to millions of people who feel alone. This combines the benefits of support groups with the therapy of journal writing.
• Focused imagery. We have talked about the importance of balanced energy flow in maintaining and recovering health. When pain or despair threaten, you can try to restore your chakras to order and harmony. Close your eyes and imagine a ball of warm, healing light glowing in your body. Really concentrate on feeling it as well as seeing it. Move the healing ball over your body, especially where you are feeling pain or discomfort. To end, imagine the ball moving away from your body, taking away all the negative feelings, both physical and mental.
• Affirmations. Positive affirmations can be used in conjunction with any of these techniques. They are statements – always positive – regarding the truth of your situation. You can create your own or turn to religion to help you. For instance, in the Book of Proverbs it says, “As a man thinketh, so he is.” This will remind you that the power to heal is in your mind. You can also repeat, “I am strong. I am whole.” Whatever feels comfortable to you and will give you a needed boost of energy will make a great affirmation. Make it short, and make it positive. Repeat this and other affirmations to yourself many times a day.

These techniques and others can help your mind move into a healthier place, which is necessary before your body can follow. It may take practice before you are comfortable with techniques like imagery and deep breathing. You may feel silly saying affirmations. That is our societal conditioning kicking in! Get past this, and you will feel benefits that extend to your mind and your body. The key is to find something that works for you, something that restores you to a sense of peace.