Receiving a diagnosis of cancer can be very stressful and frustrating. Even if the diagnosis was first made some time ago, with few exceptions the cancer has been in remission, you have come to terms with living with cancer and also with death, the stress and frustration remains. There is also a certain amount of anger that may be an underlying emotion.
Dealing with the stress, the frustration, the anger, is often more difficult than dealing with the diagnosis, the tests, and the uncertainties that often accompany the diagnosis of cancer.
Although it is difficult to deal with these emotions, it is something we must do in order to avoid addiction. Even if we do not return to what was the drug of choice, the stress, frustration, and anger, when not addressed, often lead to some form of cross addiction, frequently abusing the medication we might have.
By abusing medication, or something else, the cancer may be put on the “back burner.” But only temporarily. Because when we come down from the high, the diagnosis, the stress, the frustration, the anger, all remain. These are issues that must be addressed in a more permanent manner, in a manner that does not result in addiction as an attempt to cope.