How to Deal with a Health Crisis!

How to Deal with a Health Crisis!

A brain tumor! Really?

That was my thought in April 2012 when I was diagnosed with a 3 centimeter tumor in the left occipital region of my brain. What happened to simple illnesses like a cold, or if that didn't get my attention, how about a less life-threatening illness? Of course, these questions cannot be answered, so I made a decision. I would do my best and use every tool at my disposal (medical and otherwise) to overcome this crisis, learn from it, grow from the experience and extricate myself from it! This is the first of several articles outlining the healing process and understanding how to make the most of a health crisis.

My story: It is tradition at Passover dinner for all participants to read. When it was my turn, I tried to read and couldn't! Of course, I immediately went into denial. “I’m tired from cooking so much” and “I just got a new puppy.” Well, that made no difference. What did it was my good friend Judy yelling at me, “Call the doctor.” “But I was in the middle of a TV show,” I complained. She and my husband didn't want to leave me alone, so I called. Two days later I had an MRI and 4 hours later I was seeing the best neurosurgeon in California at Cedars Sinai Hospital. Three days later I had surgery to remove the tumor.

The good news...they got everything...the bad news...it was aggressive and I had to do 6 weeks of radiation and 6 weeks of chemotherapy pills. The treatment protocol involves taking chemotherapy pills for 5 days every month for a year. I also participated in a clinical trial at Cedars Sinai for a vaccine that deactivates these cells. The end result of the surgery is that I'm healthy but still unable to read or drive...hell...manage anymore! I believe we can learn lessons from the crisis in our lives. I will address this important topic in a later article.

I told you my “story” because I didn’t want you to be stuck with what happened. What’s important is what I decided to do about it and the journey I’ve been on over the last six months.

At the first diagnosis, after the initial wave of fear and concern, we spring into action. We listen to the doctors and choose who we want on our team. There is a lot of pressure on everyone to do the “right” thing. But what is right? How do you know what is right for you? The questions flood your brain. The tendency is to leave decision-making to doctors or family members. Don't do that! Stay calm. Feel the emotions that arise. Then come back to yourself, your truth, your intelligence and what you believe in. This is the only place where you can truly listen to yourself. I realized that I needed traditional and holistic treatment. I saw it as a full circle. Pretty simple. Now I had to find out what the circle contained.

I knew I needed an advocate, a therapist who could keep me in tune with myself so that the fears didn't take over. I knew I would pursue Western medical treatments, although I was always suspicious of traditional medical society. I took a leap of faith and realized that they were experts in treating tumors, were professionally trained and I would get good advice and guidance. I listened to my family and friends and made my own decisions. I reviewed every option and idea presented to me. I believe that when an idea comes to me, I should pay attention to it. It's an opportunity that may or may not be right for me. I chose a nutritionist, yes my holistic doctor (which I already had), and yes a clinical trial for a cancer vaccine. I decided against acupuncture and a few other healing methods simply because I was overwhelmed with doctor appointments. Of course I said YES to hypnosis and guided imagery. I have been practicing hypnotherapy for 30 years and it is such a huge part of me. The difference is that I allowed other practitioners (my friends) to work with me. I have some wonderful CDs to listen to and hypnosis is multifaceted as I can work on stress, anxiety, negativity as well as healing, symptom relief and strengthening my health.

My mindset was important. I chose a therapist who believes that once the tumor is there, the crisis that caused it is over and healing is underway. It was true for me. I have never seen myself as sick or unhealthy.

The following articles will outline for you how I maintain my strength, my strength and my patience. You will discuss different healing modalities and how to choose what is right for you. The last six months have been a journey of letting go, relearning what I took for granted, balancing, allowing myself to be taken care of, and receiving. I'm learning to control my urge to control! This is the hardest job I've ever had. As I navigate through life, sometimes I feel like I'm failing and don't understand, and other times I feel very wise and powerful. When friends, family, doctors, people I meet admire me for how I'm dealing with this, I just smile quietly inside.

© 2012, Hypnosis Concepts. Publication rights are granted as long as the article and author are reprinted intact, with all links live.