EFT for Cancer related Grief. Unlock your emotional resilience.
- Christina S
- Apr 10, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: May 16, 2024
Hey there, fellow grief warrior!
I know what your thinking- what the heck does grief have to do with cancer, right? Well, as someone who's supported cancer patients and their families for the past 10 years, let me tell you, the two go hand-in-hand.
From the moment you hear those dreaded words "you have cancer," grief sets up shop right alongside you. And if you haven't exactly made friends with grief before, well, it can take a bit of getting used to at first.
But here's the thing - that rollercoaster of emotions you're on? They’re completely normal. I remember working with a client, let’s call her Sarah to maintain her privacy. Sarah was struggling to keep it together as she faced her second round of radiation. She was barely holding it together, worried about telling her family and friends, completely exhausted and scared out of her mind and crying in private moments in the shower and in bed, every chance she got.
Sound familiar? That, my friend, is what we call anticipatory grief - the grief that starts brewing before the big changes or loss even happens. Because let's be real, a cancer diagnosis is a huge adjustment and loss, even if you beat it. It's the loss of the future you thought you had, the changes to your body, to your life and your roles which can come with a whole lot of heartache.
But here's the good news - there are ways to build up your emotional resilience to handle all of this with greater ease and confidence. Enter, the magical of Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT).
EFT is like a little secret superpower that can help you tap into a state of calm, even when the storm is raging all around you. It's this beautiful blend of psychology and acupressure that allows you to release those emotional blocks, just by tapping on specific points while acknowledging what you're feeling.
Now, I'm not gonna lie, the grief and fear that comes with cancer is no joke. But with tools like EFT in your toolkit, you can start to navigate those choppy waters with a little more grace. So let’s unpack what anticipatory grief is and how you can build your resilience to ride through it with more grace and ease.
What is Anticipatory Grief and how does it relate to cancer?
So let's talk about this thing called anticipatory grief. Think of it like a storm brewing before the rain even starts pouring. It's that grief that starts bubbling up when you know a big loss is on the horizon.
Now, a lot of people associate grief with the death of a loved one, but the truth is, grief can start way before that final goodbye. And for those of us facing a cancer journey, that grief rears its head the moment we hear those words.
It's facing the realization that life as we knew it is forever changed. We start grieving the future we thought we had, the energy we'll lose, the changes our bodies will go through, changes in our routines, changes in our lives and so much more. And even though we try to cherish every moment, those feelings of impending loss can still be overwhelming - the fear, the sadness, the anger.
Cancer grief is often misunderstood as well. But the important thing to know is that what you're feeling is completely normal. And there are ways to build up your resilience to get you through.
Embracing Emotional Resilience
What is emotional resilience you say? Well, it's kind of like having a secret superpower that helps you bounce back after a storm. Now, this doesn't mean ignoring what's happening or pretending everything's ok. Not at all. It’s all about allowing yourself to feel ALL the feelings, and then finding the strength to keep going.
Let's be real - the weight of grief and uncertainty that comes with cancer can feel downright astronomical at times. One minute you're balling your eyes, the next you're trying to keep it together to take care of those daily tasks and your loved ones. It's a lot.
But here's the thing - when you make the conscious choice to sit with those emotions, instead of pushing them away, you might just find the struggle starts to ease up a bit. That's where practices like Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) come in handy. They help you connect with those feelings in a safe, productive way.
The Magic of Emotional Freedom Technique
How can EFT help with cancer related anticipatory grief?
As a cancer social worker, I've seen firsthand how the grief, fear, and overwhelming emotions can really take a toll on patients and their families. It can feel like you're living in some kind of surreal horror movie.
But here's the good news - EFT can be a total game-changer when it comes to navigating that anticipatory grief. I've used it with clients to help with all sorts of cancer-related challenges, like:
Dealing with the shock of a cancer diagnoses or prognosis.
Managing the physical and mental side effects of chemo, radiation, medications, surgery and impacts on daily life.
Finding the courage to open up to loved ones about what you're going through
Dealing with fears and grief when living with advanced cancer or anticipation of end of life care.
Dealing changes in life including work changes, social changes and more.
Seriously, you can use EFT for just about anything you're struggling with. It's all about acknowledging what's coming up for you in the moment, and then using those gentle tapping techniques to release the intensity.
Tapping Away the Overwhelm – Sarah’s journey
Remember Sarah, that mentioned earlier? Well, after I introduced her to the magic of EFT, she dove in headfirst. I encouraged her to start tapping on all that overwhelm and fear she was feeling about opening up to her family and friends.
And let me tell you, the transformation was incredible. Sarah went from being an emotional mess to feeling so much more grounded and in control. She started coming into our sessions confident that she could tackle whatever was to come up head on, able to really tune into what was most meaningful for her during this wild journey.
Most importantly, Sarah found the courage to communicate openly with her loved ones. No more hiding or feeling like she couldn't talk about the changes in her treatment plan. EFT gave her the emotional resilience she needed to weather that storm.
Nurturing Your Emotional Resilience
Listen up, my fellow warrior - emotional resilience is a journey, and it's going to look a little different for each of us. So if you decide to give EFT a try for your cancer-related grief, don't be afraid to mix it up with other supportive practices too, like journaling, mindfulness, or leaning on your support system.
The key is finding what works best for you to amp up those superpowers. And remember, you don't have to go through this alone. There are so many incredible resources, practitioners and communities out there, just waiting to lend a helping hand.
The choice is yours, my friend. But I truly believe that by embracing your emotions and tapping into that calm, you can navigate this bittersweet journey with a little more grace. Who knows, you might even discover the gift in it all.
If you do need a little extra support book a free 15 min consult to see if EFT or Matrix Reimprinting is the new superpower you’ve been looking for.
Christina
If you are new to tapping or prefer someone to guide you through tapping to build your emotional resilience register to join the Grief from the Couch tapping group designed to help you move through your grief with greater ease and confidence, all from the comfort of your couch!
And if you need more support to move through your grief book now for an EFT for grief or Matrix Reimprinting session. I’d be honoured to help you move through your grief so you can experience a greater sense of freedom and ease.
If you enjoyed this blog, don’t forget to hit the like button or leave me a comment. I’d love to hear how you are going with healing your grief.
Christina is a cancer social worker, Matrix Reimprinting, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) practitioner and Reiki master-teacher with a love of energy psychology and healing practices.
She works with people to free themselves from their grief struggles so they can move through life with more ease, confidence, love and joy, all while honouring their loved ones and themselves in their own unique way.
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