thisishowwegrow hashtag performance

❤️Grief isn’t just about death; loss accompanies breast cancer, chronic illness, relationship struggles, mental health issues, and yes, identity & self-worth, among others. If we don’t grieve our losses when they come we can get stuck in a place of depression, anxiety, fear, doubt, etc. 👉🏻And it only compounds things when those we try to turn to for support don’t know what to say, say hurtful things, or ignore us altogether. 👉🏻So for anyone wanting to be there for someone, try these 4 things. I’ve had enough loss and grief in my life to know they will help more than you know. 💕 I’ve worked with enough souls going through load and grief to know they need your love, care, understanding. 🫂 ❓If you have questions, please ask 👇🏻. What do you want others to know, say or do when it comes to grief support? #lifeafterbreastcancer #breastcancerwarrior #breastcancersurvivor #breastcancermentalhealth #chronicillnesssupport #griefrecovery #griefandlosssupport #thisishowwegrow

Breast cancer treatment, including chemo and 15 surgeries, left me with many chronic issues, including POTS, MCAS, and EDS.😐 For the first time in over five years, I have felt “relatively better“ more days than not! 🙌🏻 I say “relatively better,” because having more decent days than bad ones is a huge win! AND there are still tough days & much to figure out & adjust to. ❤️‍🩹”Well” is all relative! 👉🏻I’m still trying to figure out what has made the difference, but these three things are at the top of the list. I’ll be sharing more as I continue to figure this all out, as I continue to weed through what works and what doesn’t. 👇🏻But this much I can say: If you have been dealing with cancer, chronic illness, mental illness, loss, grief, trauma, life,… It’s OK and even a great idea to try and take a break when you can! It’s OK to not do all the appointments and therapies and treatments. It’s OK to not think about it. It’s OK to take a break from processing the emotions of it all. 👉🏻Even if it’s temporary, getting some kind of short break, can make all the difference in long-term healing. At least that’s what I’m learning. ❤️‍🩹 ❓Questions? What’s made the difference for you? #breastcancerwarrior #chronicwarrior #lifeafterbreastcancer #potssyndrome #mastcellactivationsyndrome #ehlersdanlossyndrome #thisishowwegrow

I’m NOT good at pretending I’m fine when I’m not, & these are 4 reasons why. 👆🏻 When we don’t acknowledge, accept, and admit how we really feel, everything gets bigger, harder, more complicated, more overwhelming. So say it. 🗣️ 👉🏻Say: I feel sad. I feel angry. I hate what’s happened. I want/need to cry (and do it). That’s not ok. I’m not ok. I feel alone. I need your help. Please love and support me no matter how I feel. ❤️‍🩹 I know it’s not easy to do. And I also know it’s the only way to eventually heal. 👉🏻We have to DEAL with what’s really going on. 👉🏻We have to FEEL it all. 👉🏻If we want to HEAL at all. ❓What consequences of not speaking up or saying how you feel have you experienced most? What benefits of speaking up have you experienced? #lifeafterbreastcancer #breastcancerwarrior #chronicwarrior #breastcancersurvivor #mentalhealthwarrior #speakupspeakout #saywhatyoufeel #feelwhatyoufeel #breastcancermentalhealth #thisishowwegrow

What is POTS? What’s it like living with POTS? And what. An we do?🤷🏼‍♀️ These are some of the things I’ve learned in the almost 2 years since I was diagnosed with POTS. Mine was triggered by breast cancer treatment—chemo, 15 surgeries!😵‍💫 It’s been a HUGE adjustment because it impacts every aspect of every day. I’m learning to accept my limitations, push myself when I can, & adjust to “potsie” life. AND it’s a constant challenge. 😑 If you know someone with POTS, please share & learn about it so you can support and understand them better. 🫂 If you are living with POTS, what’s it like for you?❓ What are your challenges, worries, and tips for what we can do?❓ #lifeafterbreastcancer #breastcancerwarrior #potssyndrome #posturalorthostatictachycardiasyndrome #potsie #livingwithpots #potslife #chronicwarrior #chronicillnesslife #thisishowwegrow

This says it all. Having a #potsflare in front of others is just embarrassing & frustrating! 🤯😤 I know most people probably didn’t even notice, and those that did were kind enough to come and give me a little hug after. 🫂 And I’m so grateful that my daughter was willing to step in for me, and that my husband was able to drive me home. 💕 I keep trying. 💪🏻 I keep getting up and doing what feels possible in that moment, on that day. 😌 Some days it is possible 👍🏻 Other days it isn’t. 👎🏻 I am learning how to live with chronic illness, and it’s a huge adjustment! ❤️‍🩹 AND I’ll keep adjusting, learning, moving forward one day at a time. ❤️ (Yes, I’ll lead the music again too. I’ll just have a backup on hand in case!😅) ❓Questions? Comments? Love? What’s it like for you? #lifeafterbreastcancer #potssyndrome #chronicwarrior #potswarrior #potsawareness #potsie #potslife #breastcancerwarrior #mastcellactivationsyndrome #ehlersdanlossyndrome #breastcancersurvivor #thisishowwegrow

💕For all struggling through cancer, chronic illness, mental health challenges, loss, trauma, and all things that try to break us… 🙏🏻Please hear me when I say: Your WORTH does not lie in what you CAN or CANNOT DO. Oh this has been such a tough lesson for me! Even though as a psychologist I’d long helped clients see this truth, I guess I thought it somehow didn’t apply to me. I started sharing my journey here because it felt like all I could do to try and serve and contribute. 👉🏻I know now: Even if I didn’t share a thing, I’m still of value. When I feel weak and UNable and need rest and healing and relief it’s ok to just do my best to survive day by day. When I have a little more in my tank I can start to think more of others and I can make a difference just through tiny means like: Share my story Send a love filled text Call a loved one Smile at a stranger Empathize with another who I know is struggling too Listen Be there Just like so many have done and continue to do for me. We are worthy just because we ARE. Even with limitations there’s so much good we can bring to this world by sharing our experiences, light, learning, and love… AND by letting others do the same for US. For all feeling unseen and misunderstood I’m here and I want to know how I can serve you. Sending love and a smile and prayers to all. ❤️ ❓Have you struggled with this? Tell us about it. What’s helped you? #breastcancerwarrior #lifeafterbreastcancer #chronicwarrior #selfworthjourney #breastcancerjourney #potssyndrome #mastcellactivationsyndrome #ehlersdanlossyndrome #ptsdwarrior #breastcancersurvivor #brcasisterhood #thisishowwegrow

💕Lately I’ve been trying to make some sense of all that’s happened to my body, mind, heart, relationships & spirit these past 5.5 years thanks to breast cancer, 15 surgeries, and all the lasting chronic issues I deal with daily. I’ve had 2 months of feeling “better” than I had been, relatively speaking, and I needed a BREAK from all the Drs, treatments, therapies, from talking or thinking or dealing with it all. 🤯 So I’ve been away from social media for the past couple months, in addition to cutting out many things I know can trigger my chronic issues & avoiding anything health related as much as I could. 😌 Of course I couldn’t keep it up forever, and this week I’m back to Dr appointments, blood work, new meds, and having to think and feel and deal with it all. 😑 👉🏻It has me wondering “What just HAPPENED these past years?” And who and how am I NOW? Trying to make sense of cancer or mental or chronic illness is tough, because so much is nonsensical. 😵‍💫 👉🏻All I know for sure right now is: I have more good days than I have had in years. I still have many rough hours or days or even weeks. I’m not “all better” & I probably won’t ever be. I am doing all I can to be as healthy as possible. I needed a break and I’m so glad I’ve had it! My symptoms are telling me I’m still not where I’d like to be, & I know it’s time to dive in and deal with it all again. I keep moving forward an inch at a time, a snail, day by day, learning a new way to be me. 🐌 It’s a lifelong process I’m only just beginning. I need and welcome understanding, empathy and support. I walk this road with so many of you & hope you know you’re not alone. 🫂 That’s what I’m working on. ❤️ ❓How about you? #breastcancerwarrior #lifeafterbreastcancer #potssyndrome #mastcellactivationsyndrome #chronicwarrior #ehlersdanlossyndrome #breastcancerjourney #breastcancerjourney #BreastCancerAwareness #brca1 #breastcancermentalhealth #chronicillnessmentalhealth #thisishowwegrow

It’s been a rough few weeks, not gonna lie. 😑 Back to Dr appointments, dealing with insurance (ugh😡!) switching & adding medications, dealing with side effects, exhaustion, brain fog, dizziness, POTS & MCAS flares—it’s a lot!🤯 And it brings all the breast cancer mental health issues right back to the surface, as I attempt to re-regulate, adjust, figure out what this “new life” is supposed to be for me. ❤️‍🩹 I know so many of you get this! 🫂 And for anyone supporting someone through breast cancer, I hope you can understand too. ❤️ It’s an ongoing process of trial and error, keeping up hope in the midst of moods & emotions that are all over the place, adjusting constantly, and just praying one day it’ll feel like a new normal. 🙏🏻 Always a work in progress. 💕 ❓Relate? What’s it felt like for you? Questions? #breastcancerwarrior #lifeafterbreastcancer #breastcancerjourney #breastcancersurvivor #BreastCancerAwareness #breastcancermentalhealth #chronicwarrior #potssyndrome #mastcellactivationsyndrome #ehlersdanlossyndrome #tnbc #brca1 #thisishowwegrow