Therapeutic Activities

This is a great question. Most of us don't want to appear un-motivated so we don't talk about how difficult it is to muster up the energy to do anything at all, let alone exercise.

After my first mastectomy, I was very frustrated at all the things I couldn't do. I couldn't blow dry my hair (although chemo took care of that little problem), lift a cup of coffee, put on a tshirt, raise my arm over my head. I was very discouraged, then I started chemo and didn't have the energy to even be discouraged about what I couldn't do. At some point, I got tired of not moving. I started (very slowly) focusing on what I could do. Any small gain was a big deal for me. I kept doing the stretches the doctor prescribed and before I knew it, I was able to lift my coffee cup. A small victory, but I really enjoyed that cup of coffee.

So in answer to your question, I would say focusing on what you can do versus what you are unable to do will provide motivation to get you moving! Every day do a little more than you did yesterday and soon you will be unrecognizable to yourself.

I wish I had a good answer for this:) Some days, I just allowed myself to be lazy and do absolutely nothing other than lie on the couch. But, if I felt a little bit of energy, I would start small. A trip to the laundry room, a walk to the corner store, and eventually build up to walking a few blocks until my energy slowly came back.

No matter the way you write about it, be it by blogging, face booking, tweeting, or simply confining your thoughts into an electronic or paper journal, it's a good way starting point toward recovery. For me, it was a way to reach out to others, to talk with survivors and patients going through the same thing I was, and feel like I wasn't alone.

At first, I did it anonymously, it was easier for me that way. I was a little shy, even through the computer. Just like afreshchapter said, after I received a few comments, I got bolder and my posts and tweets started getting more precise, talking about issues that were important to me. Then, I decided I was ready to tell my own story, be open about my own experience and share my own "wisdom" about breast cancer.

The idea that my questions, my stories, even the time where I was ranting about my own misery, could help another fell less alone, know they are not the only one having good and bad days, give them an idea or two about how to go on living, fighting after this, it was worth it.

Go at it one thought, one idea, one comment at the time, but don't write about it. We all want to know, want to read and want to learn about others. It was makes us stronger. When I first started blogging, I told myself I didn't have to hit "publish" because it scared me to be vulnerable with my emotions. But, what I found is that after I pressed publish the first time and received a couple of comments, I would think about the 1 person who might feel less alone if I posted about my own experience. Even now, I try not to think about all of the strangers who have a window into my life and try to write each post for just 1 friend. Having an outlet to share my feelings has helped me through the roller coaster of post treatment life.