Life is full of unexpected challenges, and one such adversarial situation can happen when a loved one is diagnosed with a serious illness. As a family person, I know precisely how hard it is to deal with the anxiety and fear that come with it. As a single mom, I can sense how tough it is to take a break from work, but when my dad was diagnosed with a severe illness, I had no choice but to make my family my topmost priority. In this blog post, I'd like to share my experience and show you how taking a break, regardless of how hard it is, is the healthiest way to move forward and emerge the stronger and better version of ourselves.
The first thing I did after understanding the gravity of the situation was to speak truthfully and openly to my kids. I knew that they'd sense that something was wrong and the last thing I wanted was their anxiety about what was going on. Though I didn't try to sugarcoat the situation, I was careful in my conversation, underlining that they were part of our support system, and we were all going to get through this ordeal together.
I decided that I needed to consult a therapist since we were all under an enormous amount of pressure and we needed someone who could help make sense of all the emotions we were experiencing. The therapist helped us manage our expectations and gave us several tools that we needed to help our family get through this ordeal. They suggested routines, affirmations, positive mindset techniques, and envisioning a positive outcome. These tactics helped us relieve the panic and tension that we were experiencing at that time.
For me, setting boundaries and time constraints helped me manage the myriad of emotions and responsibilities that I was juggling. I needed to be there for my kids and family and keep a journal for my dad's daily care, but I also needed normality and self-care to keep me positive and energized. So, I decided to set introspective time to unwind myself, exercise, and eat healthily and mindfully. Having that structure in place gave me a sense of peace, calm, and perspective amidst the chaos.
Faith played a crucial role in my family's healing process. No matter what our beliefs are, spirituality can be a great source of comfort and solace for us. It doesn't necessarily mean we have to adopt any particular religious doctrine. A holistic approach like meditation, yoga, deep breathing can induce wellness, a sense of calm, focus, and clarity. If you embrace the power of faith, it can give you the courage to face yourself, your fears, and the things you cannot control.
When my grandpa was diagnosed with a severe illness, I found myself struggling to keep everything together. Taking a break from Macaroni Kid was the last thing on my mind, but now looking back, prioritizing my family was a wise decision. Speaking honestly to my kids, consulting a therapist, setting boundaries, and having spiritual support were some of the ways that helped us cope with the uncertainty and worry that we were confronted with. While it was a challenging time for us, my family and I came out stronger and more resilient from it. My message to anyone going through a similar situation is to seek support, make time for yourself, and have faith. You will get through this by putting your needs first and building a strong support system around you.
