I went to counselling a few days ago for the first time in about 5 months. I'm not quite sure why I went back. I have been thinking about it for a number of weeks and I finally decided to get on with it and actually go. My counsellor had left the practice where she was before but I was able to go to her new place. I was not surprised when I rang up for an appointment and was told she had left. I had been half-expecting it, just because 10 years ago when I was in counselling and then had a six month break that counsellor left too. I never saw that counsellor again and when I think of her now I miss her. Anyway, this counsellor has a new practice which has evening appointments which is great because the reason I haven't been for months is that I got in trouble for missing too much work. In funny how after my counselling appointment I often want to discuss our conversation but the whole point of going to counselling is to talk to someone separate so then there is no-one to discuss the counselling itself with. That is why I am here. So, she said that previously I had sometimes said that life was not worth living. This is not right. She has inaccurately said this before and I couldn't be bothered to try to set her straight. I am fairly sure that I once said that life didn't seem to have a point. By this I meant a narrow meaning of the word "point" - simply that my life felt like it didn't have a specific goal or aim. But she took it to mean there's no point in living, meaning it's not worth living. Maybe I should have tried to clarify this with her. But maybe it doesn't matter. She said how amazingly strong and brave I had been during my cancer treatment. I don't why she even brought that up. What does it have to do with anything now? Also, I don't understand when she says I was strong and brave. That is just rubbish. Physically I was quite lucky with side effects and for some reason I had quite a positive attitude that things would work out. But I also went to into her office and regularly cried buckets of tears and was basically terrified out of my mind. She said she knows we had some bad times but I think when she says how strong I was it makes me feel like she is dismissing my terror. I was mainly quite calm and accepting of the treatment and I can understand most people who know me having the view that I was calm about it all, but she was the one who I told my terror to. I want her to share the memory of the terror. That's it. I didn't know what was bothering me about it until I typed that. I want her to share the memory of my terror. Instead of saying how brave I was, I want to her say remember how scared you were. My little cat got sick and had to be put down while I was in the middle of chemo. I still feel guilty that maybe if I had paid more attention to her instead of worrying about myself then we would have taken her to the vet sooner and maybe she wouldn't have died. I loved her very much. While I sat with her on my lap to say goodbye before the vet gave her the injection I cried and cried and cried. It felt like it was the end of the world. My mum was with me and later said that she had never seen someone cry so much. I like it that she shares that memory with me. I'm babbling on but typing helps me sort my thoughts out. Sometimes I think I should write a journal but handwriting is too boring and I'm not used it. Typing is good.
9 Comments
Jules2
Super Contributor
Hey Allicat Just read your blog and one thing that springs to mind for me is that I am wondering if your counsellor has the perception that you were brave. Perhaps she has this perception because she knows how scared you were and yet you continued on with your treatment? Good to hear that you are still around the boards. Julie xo
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Allicat
Contributor
Thanks Julie I guess that makes sense - I have heard that being brave is about overcoming being scared. So if you weren't scared you couldn't be brave. I haven't been on the boards for a while but it is good to know that they are here. I hope you are doing ok. Allicat
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Jules2
Super Contributor
Allicat DOing ok thanks and a good explanation on braveness. I have never been able to get my head around that one in relation to cancer and subsequent treatment. Food for thought! Julie
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gn21
Occasional Contributor
I agree with the others - it is being scared but doing something anyway that shows bravery. And being scared is totally understandable. I noted your comment re getting in to trouble at work for taking too much time off. Is your workplace unsupportive? And, stating the obvious, the very sad part of your cat dying probably gave you the opportunity to cry all the tears you needed to cry Gail
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Allicat
Contributor
Hi Gail, My work was actually very supportive. While I was going thru chemo my boss said I could have as much time off as I needed and didn't even take it off my annual leave. I just went to work as much as I could handle and arrived late and left early as much as I wanted. I am now back at normal hours and have to put in a form to take leave again. The time I got in trouble was just after the 2nd anniversary of diagnosis when I had quite a number of appointments relating to annual check-ups. I should have explained that to him but I was a bit flustered and didn't. Alli
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SILLY
Super Contributor
I don't really know if people are brave when facing cancer . I think they just do what the need to do . Sorry if this sounds disagreeable . It's just how I see it . I do however see that most are strong so maybe what I see as strenghth is seen as bravery to others .
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Allicat
Contributor
Hi Silly, How are you? I always feel pleased to hear from you. I absolutely agree with you about not being brave. When my counsellor said how brave I was I said there was no choice and I just did what I had to do.
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SILLY
Super Contributor
I am going ok ,thanks . I do have down times ,a bit of feeling sorry for myself and for others because of what cancer has done in our lives , Mostly I'm trying to just get on with living and in the process of finding new interests . Joined a brand new exercise class last week and starting this week it's to be twice weekly . Also am joining a couple of ladies ,one of whom I met in the class ,to go walking once a week around a lake near us . A lot of people walk around this lake regularly . It takes about 45 minutes .I hope you're feeling ok even if the counsellor wasn't particularly helpful .
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Allicat
Contributor
Glad you're going ok Silly. Walking around the lake sounds nice. Hope you enjoy your new exercise class. I am feeling ok. I have been quite tired the last couple of weeks so I am making an effort to catch up on some sleep. I get hot flushes from my medication and they are usually accompanied by feelings of panic. The counsellor was actually quite helpful in her advice about this!
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