Coping with life after cancer through spirituality
Cancer survivors begin a new happy chapter in their lives filled with happiness after overcoming the battle with the big C. Fear, doubt, and worry, however, may strike them anytime. Will my cancer come back? Have I fully recovered?
It is human to feel afraid, have doubts, and worry. Especially for someone who has gone through the arduous journey of cancer treatments and endured unimaginable pain and discomfort. And yet, allowing fear to dwell and worry to linger in one’s heart and mind when the battle has been won may lead to symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Cancer survivors must first and foremost take care of their mental and emotional health. If you are experiencing negative emotions, such as fear, loneliness, hopelessness, and the like, acknowledge your feelings. These are valid and you should not feel guilty or ungrateful. We cannot control the onset of emotions but we can make a conscious decision on how we respond to what and how we feel.
It is important to openly discuss your feelings with someone you trust. Seeking the help of a counselor or therapist would also help you process your thoughts and emotions more effectively. You can also explore joining a group for cancer survivors. Do not battle these negative emotions on your own.
Spirituality is an integral aspect of caring for one’s mental and emotional wellbeing. A survey was conducted among 1,714 individuals by researchers from Baylor University. The study titled “Prayer, Attachment to God, and Symptoms of Anxiety-Related Disorders among US Adults” was published in the journal Sociology of Religion.
“Perhaps, most importantly for our purposes, we find consistent interactions between the frequency of prayer and secure attachment to God, such that persons who pray often to a God who is perceived as a secure attachment figure derive clear mental health benefits, while those who pray to a God who is perceived as distant or unresponsive experience elevated levels of anxiety-related symptoms.”
It isn’t about the act of praying or performing any religious act. As evident in the research, the way one perceives God makes a difference in the impact of prayers on mental health.
One of the leading researchers, Mark Bradshaw, Ph.D, explained that God is a source of comfort and strength for many people. They enter into an intimate relationship with God and form a secure attachment to Him through prayer. Prayer offers emotional comfort, which results in fewer symptoms of anxiety disorders.
We are also faced with the reality of unanswered prayers, which can be frustrating. In the Baylor Religion Survey, Bradshaw explained that some people have formed an avoidant or insecure attachment to God, which means that they don’t believe that God is there for them. Their attempts at having an intimate relationship with God are futile. Feelings of rejection from unanswered prayers may lead to severe symptoms of anxiety-related disorders.
Considering this research as well as other similar studies published, it will be helpful to do some thorough reflection on your spiritual and prayer life. Who do you pray to? Do you have a personal relationship with the one you are praying to? Do you believe that the God you are praying to loves you unconditionally? It isn’t about the act of praying or performing any religious act. As evident in the research, the way one perceives God makes a difference in the impact of prayers on mental health.
“Persons who pray in an attempt to forge a relationship with a divine other, but who believe that their prayers are unmet and that God is distant and unresponsive, are likely to feel a deep sense of estrangement from God’s love. Thus, our results are broadly consistent with emerging literature, which indicates that the nature of one’s perceived relationship with God can play an important role in shaping mental health outcomes,” according to the authors of the study.
Coping with challenges that come after surviving cancer may not be a walk in the park. But a holistic approach that includes a healthy spiritual life in combination with optimum nutrition, an active lifestyle, and having healthy relationships for support will go a long way.