Dealing with Anxiety - share your experiences and tips

Just 'bumping' this post back to the top of the discussion list in case any members haven't seen it yet.

13 days ago a very good friend, my best friend, someone i have known for 45 years and see as my daughter and my kids see as their big sister, was told she had terminal cancer and maybe has one year to live. She has 2 boys, twins with "minor" learning difficulties aged 10, she had cancer 12 years ago and was cured then 2 years after the boys were born, we thought it had returned though thankfully it hadn't, but it was an awful thing to go through, and as a consequence i was asked to be the boys guardian should anything happen, and it has, as i mentioned earlier. Losing my  best friend is breaking all the family's hearts and to add to this we don't know if I'm going to be seen as a suitable guardian as I also have terminal cancer with maybe, If lucky, 3-4 years and that i may break my promise and not take care of the boys for as long as i can is at times unbearable. I feel I am letting my girl down when she needs me the most. I couldn't sleep, barely ate, didn't want to be alone, cried all the time, my heart which is not good was all over the place. I was irritable - I'm the calmest person I know, I felt cold and had thoughts running through my head that i really didn't want. Thankfully I am blessed with a wonderful family who decided I needed time to think and talk things through so we went away for the weekend, that was 4 days after the bad news, We were very lucky to have a consultation with one of the best oncologists when we got back and on the day we went away asked our solicitor to look into any legal issues that may effect me being guardian to the boys, This was all helpful to everyone's emotions, personally i  was my usual relaxed self, though my heart was it's usual self, I didn't feel cold and wasn't in tears so often. Eating and sleeping and being alone were still a problem, I have had a little anxiety before but nothing like this and had done anxiety, wellbeing and relaxation courses which have always helped in the past and  have helped a little this time, I am feeling a little better every day, got a much better diagnosis-prognosis from the oncologist and our solicitor is very hopeful, which is such a relief, and is helping us all with our emotions and we have a plan B+C. I am fine on my own again walking more than I have done for2 years and feel well physically and getting back to something like normal if you can be normal when your going to lose your girl. best wishes to you all.

Eddie xx

A little update, after more tests our oncologist has said 3 years is likely, and though there are no legal issues to me being the boys legal guardian, in three years I doubt I will be physically able to care for the twins and if I am it won't be for long, so my eldest daughter will become their guardian, good luck and take care,

Eddie xx

Thanks for posting so openly about your experience with anxiety, eddiel. It was understandably a very raw time, and it sounds like there were many layered factors that intensified your feelings. I'm glad to hear that your eldest daughter is able to provide some peace of mind to you and your friend regarding guardianship. 

Thank you Matthew, I appreciate that.

Eddie