GENERAL LACK OF ENERGY/FEELING TIRED ALL THE TIME – NERVOUS TENSION
Nervous tension may be playing some part in producing your lack of energy, especially if you are refusing to acknowledge or express some of your real feelings. It is when you try to force natural feelings like anger, sadness or anxiety underground that they are likely to surface in the form of unpleasant symptoms like extreme tiredness. Don’t force yourself to appear bright, cheerful and optimistic when you don’t really feel like that at all. Talk about and express your feelings—let them out and share them with your loved ones. I am sure that you will all have more energy to deal with what is happening if you can do this.
Try not to burn up energy raging against things that cannot be changed. Use what energy you have positively, to make the most of your situation. If you can no longer manage activities that have been important for you, think about whether you can modify them in some way so that you can manage. Ask for help— obstinately insisting on being independent could mean that you will miss out on some things that you could have managed with a bit of help. Look for appealing alternatives that are within your capabilities. In short, try to make the most of the time and energy that you do have. It is actually quite likely that you will gain energy as a result!
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EXPRESSIONS USED TO DESCRIBE EFFECTS OF TREATMENT – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS (PART 3)
What can we conclude now? You have cancer and that is bad news, whichever way you look at it. There are probably difficult times ahead of you, whatever you do. If you meekly accept all your practitioner’s recommendations, it is likely that life will be much less pleasant for you than it could be. If you try to make your own decisions, it is likely that you will have difficulty getting the cooperation and information you need from your practitioner. Seek support from family, friends, nurses, social workers, or other practitioners. Trust your own judgement and gut feelings about what is right for you. Don’t let your practitioner talk you out of your decisions with medical jargon, scientific explanations, bullying or sweet-talking. These are techniques that authority figures such as fathers and teachers use with children. Switch to a practitioner who doesn’t do this, if possible. If not, just remember that you are not a child and that they can only hold a position of power and authority over you if you let them.
Here is a thought that might help you a little. Every time you refuse to let a practitioner treat you like a helpless child, you make it that tiny bit easier for the next patient to do the same. It is only through pressure from patients like you that doctors and other practitioners will be forced to change their approach, I believe this is the most important way in which you can use your disease to help future patients.
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