Living with a lung disease or lung cancer can bring some big changes to your life. You might have to deal with changes in your relationships, how well you can move and what you do each day. It’s normal at first to resist or fight these changes. This may seem to work initially, but over time, you will need to find a way to adapt to these changes.
It’s hard to deal with change, especially if it happens fast. Try to accept the things you can’t change, and instead, focus your energy on what you can. This can help you feel more in control.
Good and bad days
Everyone has good and bad days. It’s okay not to always feel on top of things. Allow yourself to feel off in the moment and accept that it happens. But that doesn’t mean you have to talk yourself into feeling the same way for the rest of the day. Instead of saying “I’m having a bad day,” try “I’m feeling low on energy at the moment.” This opens up the possibility of feeling better later. Your words can be a big influence in changing how you feel.
Feeling out of control
When life feels uncertain and changes happen, you might want to control everything. But trying to control too much can actually make you feel less in control. Trying to control others or situations often means setting more rules and being less flexible. But people and things don’t always follow the rules. This can leave you feeling even more out of control, so you try harder, creating a cycle that can cause further stress and emotional strain.
Accepting your new normal
It’s natural to miss how things used to be as your body changes. This is a normal part of dealing with loss. To help yourself adjust, try thinking of these changes as your “new normal”. Focus on what you can still do, rather than on what you can’t.
Preparing for medical appointments
Waiting for and going to medical appointments and tests can be stressful. Sometimes you might get anxious or think only about the worst-case scenario. This can be emotionally draining, even though you can’t change the outcome. Remind yourself that it’s okay to feel this way. Focus on the present and let go of what you can’t control. You can read more advice about preparing for appointments at our blog.
Adapting to a life-limiting condition
Some lung diseases or lung cancer may shorten your lifespan. Your specialist doctor will probably talk about this with you. Adapting to this can be hard for you and your loved ones. Although it can be difficult to start the conversation, talking about it together can ease each other’s worries and bring peace.
Explore our tips for living with a life-limiting lung disease and processing your diagnosis through the stages of grief at our blog.
Dealing with progression
Lung disease or lung cancer usually changes over time. It might happen fast for some people or slowly for others. It’s hard to know exactly how it will go. Learning more about your disease helps you know what to expect.
Knowing your symptoms is really important. If you notice changes or flare-ups, don’t ignore them. Talk to your healthcare team right away. Getting help early can make a big difference.
It’s good to plan ahead for how you’ll handle changes before they happen. Think about taking more breaks or changing how you do things. For example, if you love gardening, try gardening for shorter periods of time and rest in between. Don’t push yourself too hard, because that can lead to high levels of fatigue. Pacing yourself lets you keep doing the things you enjoy.
Learn more about working towards a strength-based approach at our blog.
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