According to the APA, a study focused on women with breast cancer found that those who actively dealt with the diagnosis were better adjusted three years later than those who didn’t. And in another study, researchers concluded that inner peace and satisfaction were achieved in a greater manner for those who actively looked for support and made an effort to cope. 

Finding Support

But how do you find support? 

Experts say that building a support network is all about reliability. You need to find people who will be there for you when the going gets rough and people who will listen to what you need as opposed to what they think you need. After all, you may not want 30 days of meals delivered to your door or to see visitors when  going through treatments. That said, you also may need tough love. If you’re depressed, visitors might be a good thing.

Surround yourself with optimistic people. It’s easy to find negative people, but when facing a life-threatening diagnosis, you need people who can bring a positive attitude. These are the people who will call you just to say hello without putting unnecessary pressure on you. They’re the people who will watch your children if you need time to be alone.

Outside Sources of Support

You will want to find a therapist or psychologist who is trained to help you deal with exactly what’s going on. Plus, they’re impartial, so they’re not going to give you fluffy responses that friends or family members may give. They’re going to help you to cope with what’s going on so you can live in the healthiest manner possible.