[thisisonthetest]

I lost my dad to cancer at 14 so I wasn’t in a position to take care of him, I’m sure that adds another layer to the immense challenge of having a loved one diagnosed with cancer. Also, we had caught it very late so we only had six months with him after his diagnosis.

I’ll admit none of my advice could really help for coping or staying productive, I did not cope well, and it’s only now 14 years later, as an adult, that I’m able to work through what was the defining moment of my life. I also was just recently diagnosed with bipolar type 2 which was extremely difficult to diagnose but is likely traced back to that period of my life.

The one piece of advice I would give that I think is universally helpful is to find a good therapist. Look for a CBT/DBT therapist who can help teach you tools to correct unhealthy mindsets. You have to 1) like them and 2) they have to do a good job at showing you how/why your thought process works the way it does.