The journey through treatment, as has been discussed, offers structure and, in a kind of hideous  way, gives us a road map and a set of  instructions. After completion of treatment,  physical trauma is often present due to surgeries, harsh and toxic chemicals that have been poured into the body and rays of radiation that have beamed into various tissues and affected bones and organs. The trauma to our body is often extensive and certainly consequential, side effects may linger for years. The trauma that lives in our body can be addressed and  this helps in the release and movement of that trauma. When the emotional memory of our experience lives in the dark realms outside of our conscious awareness it is difficult to understand the complexity of our experiences. Stepping into the light of awareness we become conscious, we find our ground, we move on.

Yet so often  the end of treatment is  marked as a celebration,  “hooray, it’s over, let’s move on.”  And then you feel guilty because, in truth,  you still really don’t feel so good …

“In the attempt to improve our lives, we may urge ourselves with the familiar refrains: “Just apply yourself … Start exercising tomorrow … Cut down on the sweets, booze, shopping … Pull yourself together …Come on, shape up, work out … You can do it if you really want.” And so it goes over and over again. These exhortations and good intentions are all admirable efforts at what we call self-control. While this ability is an important life skill, it is often modest it what it can accomplish and is fraught with obvious shortcomings. Frequently this strategy only works in the short run, leading us blindly into the quicksand of guilt and self-recrimination. Ironically, there are some days when it is no simple matter just to schedule a dental appointment or arrange for an annual  medical exam.”  Peter Levine, In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness

It can be traumatizing to schedule a visit with your oncologist, a lab test, a screening MRI or mammogram.  Some days it’s just difficult to keep going, let alone attempt a positive attitude.  Some survivors find solace in their religious practices while others may have developed a spiritual practice that offers them a supportive perspective. However, not everyone is so inclined and this can end up in an isolative experience post treatment when therapeutic or secular options are not presented and appropriate referrals are not made.  It’s not helpful to identify your distress if you are not given options that allow you to choose how to effectively deal with your pain.

Attention to the trauma that your body has been through can help the process of healing. There are ways to work with this and they most likely fall under the category of  “alternative medicine”  Acupuncture, yoga, nutrition, massage, Qi Gong and Tai Chi are commonly offered in cancer centers and  in clinics as a way to detoxify and heal from cancer. A great deal of suffering could be alleviated  if this was part of the treatment plan at the beginning of survivorship. Treatment for trauma as well as psychotherapy sessions are essential components  of a survivorship plan that can be deemed integrative.

Yet so often  the end of treatment is  marked as a celebration,  “hooray, it’s over, let’s move on.”  And then you feel guilty because, in truth,  you still really don’t feel so good …

“In the attempt to improve our lives, we may urge ourselves with the familiar refrains: “Just apply yourself … Start exercising tomorrow … Cut down on the sweets, booze, shopping … Pull yourself together …Come on, shape up, work out … You can do it if you really want.” And so it goes over and over again. These exhortations and good intentions are all admirable efforts at what we call self-control. While this ability is an important life skill, it is often modest it what it can accomplish and is fraught with obvious shortcomings. Frequently this strategy only works in the short run, leading us blindly into the quicksand of guilt and self-recrimination. Ironically, there are some days when it is no simple matter just to schedule a dental appointment or arrange for an annual  medical exam.”  Peter Levine, In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness

It can be traumatizing to schedule a visit with your oncologist, a lab test, a screening MRI or mammogram.  Some days it’s just difficult to keep going, let alone attempt a positive attitude.  Some survivors find solace in their religious practices while others may have developed a spiritual practice that offers them a supportive perspective. However, not everyone is so inclined and this can end up in an isolative experience post treatment when therapeutic or secular options are not presented and appropriate referrals are not made.  It’s not helpful to identify your distress if you are not given options that allow you to choose how to effectively deal with your pain.

Attention to the trauma that your body has been through can help the process of healing. There are ways to work with this and they most likely fall under the category of  “alternative medicine”  Acupuncture, yoga, nutrition, massage, Qi Gong and Tai Chi are commonly offered in cancer centers and  in clinics as a way to detoxify and heal from cancer. A great deal of suffering could be alleviated  if this was part of the treatment plan at the beginning of survivorship. Treatment for trauma as well as psychotherapy sessions are essential components  of a survivorship plan that can be deemed integrative.

Excerpt from my book - Surviving the Storm: Helping Cancer Survivors Tell Their Stories