How do I cope when addiction and cancer feel overwhelming?

Facing both addiction and cancer at the same time creates an incredibly heavy burden, and it's completely understandable to feel overwhelmed by these dual challenges. When family relationships feel strained during such difficult times, reaching out to healthcare professionals who specialize in addiction support alongside cancer care can provide crucial guidance - many cancer centers have social workers and counselors who understand how these struggles intersect and can help coordinate the support needed to address both battles simultaneously.

Some families suck. Im sorry you wound up with one of those. You still have yourself though. You can care about yourself.

I think thats the thing. I dont care about myself. I have been putting on an act my whole life and i have no more energy to fake happy anymore. How i feel now is worse then having cancer again also my mom has cancer too.

You can start to care about yourself and you don’t have to fake being happy. Be sad if you’re sad or be angry. Talk to your oncologist/provider about your issues. Ask them for a referral to social work or some kind of counselor. Also, losing an addiction battle does mean you’ve lost the war.

I definitely feel like im losing the war. I see someone once a month. But honestly i think i need to check in somewhere. I told my husband today that i didn't want to be alive anymore. Bless him, he wants to help. I think im to far gone. I think about leaving several times a day.

Go to an emergency room

Im scared of how they will treat me. I had a desk lady call the cops and an ambulance to me because i was crying on the phone.

Don’t give up Sheri. God has a plan for you. Call a helpline now

How are you coping today?

The addiction battle is so very difficult Do you have a sponsor? Thank you for sharing. You are fighting battles with addiction and with family members who don’t seem to care.

I slept a bit today. Ive have a headache and some other pain. Thanks everyone its helpful to talk on here. No sponsor. My husband has been sober for 15 years. I see a lady every month she has me on a medication for withdrawal. But i keep slipping on Xanax. And every thing that is going on. This is my 2nd time with cancer. My mom has pancreatic cancer,and she is my narsarasistic bully. Plus things with my kids. I cant keep from thinking they all would be better off without me.

Find a narcotics anonymous meeting and go to it and keep going to it. Your mother is going to keep on being herself. You have no effect, good or bad on her. Avoid her.

Thanks kb.

Please don’t give up. Know there is a kernel of hope and strength in you. Go to a meeting. Use that as the start to get strong. You can do it!

Yes she can we are warriors.

Hi Sheri, I hear you. I an going through aggressive breast cancer treatment, separation and divorce, losing my home, losing my business, estrangement from my children, body image loss and identity challenges and multiple mental health disorders. If you want to talk, I think i have the credentials to understand.

so many true WARRIORS to learn from @Sheri C. I’m one who’s tried that- exiting because I simply couldn’t COPE one second longer. -a horrific divorce… feelings of tremendous despair, abandonment… All of it. Unbelievably… I lived despite my efforts… life took on a new and wonderful direction… not long after though I Never imagined!! who KNEW?! None of us can understand till we’ve been through the worst of life… I get it!! There is hope… there truly is… just gotta get to the other side of this. Day by day…

Here is a word I learned in my battle against multiple health issues including cancer: Joshua 1:9 NKJV Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

I don’t know what your addiction is, but you deserve to be free of pain. I was a nurse for 22 years and I remember learning that people that have addiction to opiates cocaine. Whatever need more pain medication because of their tolerance level to manage their pain just saying something to remember.

Pray, Sheri. You may say that you don’t know how, but prayer is just talking to God. Talk to Him like you would talk to your best friend and He’ll hear you. Try it 🙏♥️

I am 14 months clean and NA has been a really good resource for me especially online meetings at intherooms.com they have meetings all day practically whenever you need and you can find a sponsor on there and it's a online community as well. Stay strong and keep reaching out you can absolutely do this. I'm praying for you

Yo dont!!! Play the blame your family game , your addiction hurt your family and you probably broke trust you need to forget that and just fix YOURSELF!!! And not depend on your family or anyone else unless you really need help! But it all starts and ends with YOU! Get better! I’m in the same boat and I learned to STOP. And fix myself and it brings everything together for the best! You’re worth it and you need to fight not blame! Ok cmon you got this!!!

I can relate to your situation. I'm sorry you feel so alone. I want supposed to make it 6 months dx 1/2020. My partner of 18 years who promised he would be here, disappeared 2 years ago. And guess what, the cancer also left. It was the hardest time of my life dealing with cancer and being abandoned but I believe the stress he created in my life is what caused me to get sick. My life is much calmer now. I'm trying to figure out what this new version of me is supposed to be doing. The chemo radiation and brain surgery has changed me. Idk if I will ever be able to walk safely or do much of anything besides watch t.v., sometimes I DOUBT THERE IS MUCH OF A FUTURE sometimes but I'm going to keep fighting so I can find out. Just listen to your body, try to stay positive and accept the dysfunctional shit teach you that YOU MATTER, You are important and sometimes you have to nurture yourself because that's what you need and if no one else is stepping up, you step up for yourself. It's hard to express what I want to say. Many days are very hard for me and I feel like I'm being lazy and I should be stronger. But,,, Anyways I totally get how hard it is to deal with addiction, and abandonment. Try to stay positive. I think that cancer was put in my life to teach me but I still didn't get it until my man disappeared. I'm hard headed and only learn things through pain. Love you, hang in there and do whatever you want without guilt or shame but don't abandon yourself.

Prayers for you.

I hear ya Sue K , I’m trying to figure out myself as well I make lists of things for me to do things but feel so anxious at times I just dont want to go out into the world and face my fears. It’s hard , scares me but once I get rolling I’m good . I pray for all the people fighting for your lives and wishing all happiness your all worth it just be strong and positive and keep the faith.