A breast cancer diagnosis is a traumatic event. I have written about that topic here in other posts. I have recently discovered somatic movement as a way to release that trauma and it has been a game changer. A somatic movement is a movement that’s practiced consciously with the intention of focusing on the internal …
Lifestyle
What Does Fitness Look Like After a Breast Cancer Diagnosis?
Full confession, I’m a fitness nut. I have worked out almost daily for years. It is not just a physical thing for me. It’s vital for my mental health. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer I took to Google (never a good idea) searching to understand what fitness might look like for me in …
Exploring the Concept of Post-Traumatic Growth
Just like the progression through stages of grief. Everyone’s response to trauma is different. Some remain stuck, and struggle to move on. Others use that trauma as a catalyst for change. For the latter, it’s not called post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but rather, post-traumatic stress growth (PTSG). The phenomenon of PTSG was identified by psychologists …
Why Media Depiction of Breast Cancer Gives Me Pause
A woman with breast cancer. What picture do you conjure up in your head? If you are an advertiser or content creator that buys into the media depiction of breast cancer, she is probably depicted as weak, pale, harnessed to an IV pole and wearing a scarf on her head. She’ll definitely be wearing pink. …
Managing Stress During the Early Days of a Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Managing stress after a breast cancer diagnosis is so vital, but also very hard. I vividly recall the way I felt after my doctor broke the news to me that I had breast cancer. It was my worst nightmare come true. I could barely breathe let alone think. I recall saying to my brother I …