We often think of recovery from a health issue as a time to celebrate, but many find themselves overwhelmed by emotions, like anxiety about their "new normal."
This anxiety can include fear of recurrence, grief at the loss of routines and attachments, and more. Knowing that anxiety is often part of recovery can help patients and families navigate the healing journey.
I've spent 40 years as a family practitioner, and one pattern I see repeatedly surprises both patients and their families. Just when someone expects to be feeling great—their cancer treatment is complete, rehabilitation is finished, or a chronic condition is under control— We often think of recovery as a completely joy-filled time. Instead, many patients find themselves overwhelmed by emotions they didn’t expect. The anxiety that often accompanies healing deserves moreAfter spending time in the hospital with pneumonia, JaNeesa was getting back to her regular routine. One thing puzzled her: She kept bursting into tears. This happened at quiet moments, like on her commute or while she was doing housework. She couldn’t think of anything specific that was making her feel sad—so why was she crying? What JaNeesa was experiencing, and what most people don't know until they live it, is that healing from serious illness or injury can trigger negative feelings along with the positive ones. Recovering from a serious illness may be about much more than your body getting better—it can involve your entire life being disrupted and then rebuilt.executive, put it perfectly when she talked about rehabilitation after a stroke."The better my body got, the worse my mind felt." As her physical abilities returned, she began processing what had actually happened to her."I realized I had almost died," she says."I also started to realize I'd never be quite like I was before."What Lisa and JaNeesa were experiencing is called an adjustment reaction—a psychological response that occurs as we adapt to significant life changes, even positive ones like recovery. This reaction can include anxiety,Recovery can be unpredictable. You might worry about complications, wonder if symptoms will return, or feel anxious about your long-term prognosis. This uncertainty can be especially difficult for people who like to feel in control . When you've been sick for months or years, you acquire a new identity as a patient. As you recover, that identity fades, and you might experience this as a loss.According to recent research, nearly half of people who experienced major illness report struggling to maintain their physical, mental, andof recurrence. Every ache, unusual symptom, and follow-up appointment can trigger a flood of what-ifs. Marcus, a 58-year-old teacher who completed his cancer treatment two years ago, describes this as"living with a shadow that never quite disappears."Yet it can significantly impact your quality of life long after treatment ends. As one oncology nurse practitioner told me,"Learning to live with uncertainty can be the hardest part of survivorship." During treatment, your care team becomes central to your life. Your doctors and nurses become friends, confidants, and sometimes lifelines. You spend a lot of time as a “patient.” Cancer patients often struggle with this when transitioning to survivorship care. Leaving your oncologist can feel like a breakup, complete withand uncertainty. As one patient explained:"My doctor saved my life. She knows everything about me—my body, my fears, my family. Starting over with someone new feels like abandonment, even though I know it's a good sign."These experiences highlight the importance of a whole-person approach. Your experience of illness and recovery is as important as lab results or imaging studies.When I see patients dealing with anxiety around healing, I use what I call the HOPE note approach—focusing on what they live for, what matters to them now, and why they want to be healthy.Are you still dealing with physical discomfort or changes to your body that contribute to anxiety? Has your illness disrupted your daily routines, relationships, or sense of well-being? Have you had to change jobs? Have family roles shifted?Practical Steps Forward Your recovery journey will be different from anyone else's, even if they have the same condition. Knowing this can help you avoid judging yourself if you think you're not bouncing back as quickly as you think you should. In dealing with many military patients living with posttraumatic), I know that recovery does not mean returning to the way you were before. Instead, it means adjusting to your new normal.can help you reframe how you see yourself and transform negative thoughts into more balanced ones. Instead of"My cancer is going to come back," you might train yourself to think, “I’m healthy right now and doing my best to stay that way. If problems come up, I’ll deal with them.” Research shows that gratitude can improve both physical and psychological health. Try keeping a gratitude journal, finding a"gratitude buddy" to text daily appreciations, or writing thank-you notes to health care providers who helped you.Support groups, in person or online, connect you with people who really understand what you’re going through. Just knowing you’re not alone in your anxiety can help a great deal.Healing anxiety affects the whole family. Include your loved ones in understanding what you're experiencing and ask about support services for them, too.If you're experiencing anxiety as you heal, remember that your feelings are completely valid. You're not"doing recovery wrong" or being ungrateful because you sometimes feel anxious, angry, or sad. Working with the anxiety of healing includes finding balance between being appropriately watchful about your health and not letting worry dominate your life. By recognizing that anxiety can be a normal part of getting better, both patients and families can address it directly rather than letting it become an unspoken burden. As one survivor told me:"Healing isn't just about getting back to who you were before. It's about becoming who you are now—someone who has been through something difficult and found a new way forward."who specializes in medical trauma or adjustment disorders, a support group, online communities, or expressive therapies like music therapy or journaling.1. Hatch R, Young D, Barber V, Griffiths J, Harrison DA, Watkinson P. Anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder after critical illness: a UK-wide prospective cohort study.2. McLaughlin TJ, Aupont O, Bambauer KZ, et al. Improving psychologic adjustment to chronic illness in cardiac patients. The role of depression and anxiety.3. Van Beek FE, Wijnhoven LMA, Custers JAE, et al. Adjustment disorder in cancer patients after treatment: prevalence and acceptance of psychological treatment.4. Guan T, Santacroce SJ, Chen DG, Song L. Illness uncertainty, coping, and quality of life among patients with prostate cancer.5. Thong MSY, Wolschon EM, Koch-Gallenkamp L, et al."Still a cancer patient"—Associations of cancer identity with patient-reported outcomes and health care use among cancer survivors.is a professor of medicine at Georgetown University and the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, as well as a retired lieutenant colonel in the Medical Corps of the U.S. Army.Life never gets easier. Fortunately, psychology is keeping up, uncovering new ways to maintain mental and physical health, and positivity and confidence, through manageable daily habits like these. How many are you ready to try?Self Tests are all about you. Are you outgoing or introverted? Are you a narcissist? Does perfectionism hold you back? Find out the answers to these questions and more with Psychology Today.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Kim Carnes Seemingly Shades JoJo Siwa’s Bette Davis Eyes CoverSeveral people dragged JoJo’s “raspy” vocals and “trad wife” appearance in the viral video.
Read more »
Kim Carnes Seemingly Shades JoJo Siwa's 'Bette Davis Eyes' CoverKim Carnes appeared to subtly shade JoJo Siwa's 'Bette Davis Eyes' cover after the pop star teased it via social media
Read more »
'80s icon shades JoJo Siwa's 'Betty Davis Eyes' cover after fans brutally drag viral songKim Carnes, who popularized “Bette Davis Eyes” with her version in 1981, has seemingly entered the chat.
Read more »
The Internet History of Jojo SiwaWith new single “Bette Davis Eyes” and a new boyfriend Chris Hughes, Jojo Siwa is entering yet another era.
Read more »
EXCLUSIVE: Jojo Siwa Responds To Kim Carnes' 'Bette Davis Eyes' CriticismEmily Lichty is an editorial intern for TODAY.com based in New York City. An avid foodie and pop culture nerd, Emily specializes in lifestyle and entertainment coverage. When she is not writing, Emily loves to take long walks while listening to a memoir on audiobook, blast a Maggie Rogers album on her speakers or watch a Wes Anderson movie.
Read more »
Bette Davis’s Former Oceanfront Estate in Maine Hits the Market for $15 MillionThe late Hollywood icon's 1950s 'Witch Way' property spans eight acres with 1,200 feet of ocean frontage on the Casco Bay. It's priced at $15 million.
Read more »