On Instagram I was asked a question about cancer and I will publish the answer here because it seems to me that it is relevant. Question: How to start living after cancer? It's scary, I'm in remission, but the paranoia doesn't go away. This is a difficult question. But I will try to answer. You experienced a great shock when everything in your life that seemed reliable and stable turned out to be shaky and life itself was under threat. But you had enough strength to cope. The fear that the disease will return now blocks all positive feelings, but it also allows you to adhere to the recommendations of doctors, treat yourself with care, respond to any changes in the body, and be on the alert. For a long time, all your forces have been focused on fighting the disease, and now, it finally retreats - the purpose and meaning of life is lost, it is not at all clear how ordinary people live and how you lived before, what you did, what you thought about. The freed up time is replaced by fear, which fills the entire space of your life. And here it is important not to give your life to fear, because you didn’t give it to cancer! It is important not to accumulate this fear in yourself, but to “throw it out” - pronounce it, write it down, shout at him, beat the pillow, imagining that it is fear, get angry! Don't stop him, don't be alone. During your battle with cancer, you had to pacify your fear so that treatment could be carried out. But now, when there is no intensive treatment, fear is on a pedestal, it strives to occupy the entire mind. It is important to make other feelings, constrained by fear, “come to life.” Look for your new interest in life, let it be realized! Draw, dance, sing, walk through the forest, experiment, spend time with loved ones, enjoy the little things! Have you managed to walk your dog without thinking about cancer? Great! Make a note of this for yourself. If it turns out to be 15 minutes, then it will turn out to be more. It is important to understand that you will never find a goal as big as fighting cancer that will occupy your entire consciousness, but you can definitely find something less meaningful, but more joyful! Set new achievable goals, search daily, move in small steps, live “here and now” and do not give up your won time to fear! Hugs!* Instagram belongs to Meta, which is recognized as an extremist organization in Russia.