Mindfulness apps

Hi again Jo Willow90, I have personally never used any mindfulness apps but I do have ‘my’ place in the house where I can sit, reflect, listen to music, look at the wildlife in our garden and keep my treatment journey diary…… my diaries (as I have a few) go back over my 22+ years on my incurable cancer journey - keeping a diary comes highly recommended from me.

When we get diagnosed we all get an invisible rucksack put on our backs…… we don’t know this as no one tells us. We then go through diagnosis, treatment plans, treatment and post treatment continually dumping ‘cancer stuff’ into the sack…… along with stress, emotions, fear, anxiety…..

Its important to unpack this rucksack ASAP and continue to do this over our journeys so do use the Macmillan Support Services on 0808 808 00 00 - most services are open 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week where you will get great emotional support and a listening ear.

Talking to people face to face can help a lot but during these strange times it’s not that available but do check to see if you have any Local Macmillan Support in your area has opened up.

Do also check out for a local Maggie's Centre in your area or talk with your clinical team with regards to any specific one on one cancer support in your area.

You need to lighten the load on your back and in doing this the rest that is left in the rucksack can become more manageable ((hugs))

Mike, 

thank you for your reply, I do like the analogy of the rucksack. I think mine is very heavy at the moment. 
I am taking on board every thing that every one says to try and get through the next 2 weeks until treatment starts. These weeks are long 

Jo x

Yes the waiting is hard. It took over a year for me to eventually get a clear diagnosis, I also have had many relapses over these years but I quickly understood the importance of travelling the cancer journey with a light rucksack.

Do pick up a phone and call or check to see if there is a drop in centre near you as you will be surprised as to how much this can help lighten the load.

You may also want to consider putting some info in your profile (see the link at the bottom of my posts), it’s like a diary, as further down the line you go it will be an encouragement as to the distance you have come on your journey. You can also hit group menders community names and see their stories ((hugs))

Hi Jo,

I've been using the Smilng Mind app for a few years now. It's Australian and completely free. I find the sleep meditations particularly helpful when I'm struggling with insomnia but it also has a good intro to mindfulness and a whole range of meditations for different situations.

AisB

Thank you, 

I’ll have a look at it xx

Hi Jo

I know it's been a little while since you posted but I only recently joined and saw your post. I use an app called Insight Timer useful. It's a mixture of recorded and live sessions and large parts of it are free to use. 

 hope you have been able to get some relief from your emotional overload. I too journal as a way of processing thoughts and feelings and find that helpful to lighten the load. All the best 

Hi Willow90,. I've not used a mindfulness app as I'm not too good at being still!

I just kept busy after the surgery in my alottment and in the charity shop where I volunteer.  I tried to avoid Google as advised so I didn't get any more upset.  Like you and all of us I guess the time before treatment is the worst when your mind is covering all possible outcomes. To not be in control and have something possibly life limiting appear is so frightening. I made myself try and do one nice thing for me every day as well as I deserved it.  My 21 yr old daughter said it's about time you chose your music mum!  So that's one positive thing l am doing.  I've been a palliative care nurse so talking with my girl with tongue in cheek humour was a relief too surprisingly!

Be gentle with yourself hon, remember these new drugs are having positive results for lots of people.  I'm learning this on this site.  Once the treatment start we adjust and seem to normalise it into our lives so it doesn't loom as large. We are all on a different journey here but with similar diagnosis. Take care of you for now, one day at a time. Sending hugs and love to you xx 

Good morning Mike.
The rucksack you speak off in my case is a real one. My cancer causes me to have diarrhoea much to often. When out and about and within walking distance of a public toilet I put my rucksack over my shoulder. It contains tablets to try and control events, clothes if in real trouble and various pants liners such as Tenamen. I'm wondering if I have two rucksacks the one I described and the one I have not been told about. Your use of the virtual rucksack idea was quite funny considering mine is loaded with every contingency plan support I can cram into it. All the best, Chromeplated.