People who are diagnosed with a serious illness often talk about having to put their lives on hold while they receive treatment. These are living losses that we will grieve.
The certainties of daily life and our future will look radically different to what we imagined, or may disappear. How will we manage all the overwhelming feelings that accompany this experience?
A diagnosis of serious illness can be very isolating when you look around and see other people getting on with their everyday lives. Sharing your thoughts, feelings, ideas and experiences with others who we trust or perhaps accessing support through conversations, support groups, counselling, writing, journaling and exchanging on social media can be a way of keeping us connected in community and to not feel so alone.
