In September of 2018, my dad was diagnosed with cancer. He was told that he had two years to live. I started eating everything, and gained a lot of weight. In February of 2019, my best friend was diagnosed with cancer and he just disappeared on me. I started to stop eating and sleeping. Now, I get this pain in my stomach every night that doesn’t go away. It just gets worse and worse day by day.
CONSIDER THIS:
- Sad events happening in your life can make you feel depressed and alone. You are strong for enduring the problems of loved ones even though it makes your life difficult as well.
- If you need someone to talk to, you can go to the Teen Central website and click the Help tab to call one of the hotlines. You may also speak to a trusted therapist, psychologist or religious leader.
- Sometimes when a loved one becomes ill, it can cause us to get an illness as well because we feel their pain. A pain in your stomach could be an indication of a serious illness, especially if it just gets worse. For this reason, you may want to see a doctor so you can make sure to take care of yourself and figure out what’s wrong.
- Not eating a healthy diet can cause stomach pains or cause you to get a serious eating disorder that could lead to a litany of health issues. You can take care of your health by eating nutritious foods and exercising regularly. Sleep better by using less technology, doing calming spiritual techniques and being grateful for your life among other things.
- Knowledge is power. You can do your own research about the causes of the pain in your stomach by searching online or reading books.
- Spirituality often helps people worry less, accept what they can’t change, have a more meaningful life and live a healthier lifestyle. You can try spiritual techniques like prayer, meditation or yoga on a regular basis to calm your mind, body and spirit. Attending church services is also a way to get involved.
- Too much pent up emotion can be bad for a person’s health. Creativity is useful for letting your feelings out in a healthy way. Some creative activities are drawing, painting, creative writing, playing a musical instrument or listening to music.
- You may also express your feelings by writing in a daily journal. Write down some things you’re grateful for, inspirational quotes or just let whatever feelings you’re having come out on paper.
- You can be positive by repeating positive affirmations to yourself. Stay hopeful by always having something to look forward to such as reading a favorite book. Use your sense of humor to get through your troubles by reading comics or watching cartoons.
- Instead of letting the problems of others get you down, you can let them make you a better person by volunteering to help others. Help children who have cancer or other illnesses by writing letters, giving gifts or sending cards. Some charities you might like are St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Make-a-Wish Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and Reach Out and Read. By staying strong and maintaining your health, you can help others who have serious, life-threatening illnesses live better lives. Volunteering to become a counselor is a rewarding experience for those who care about the feelings of others. You can also save a dog or cat by fostering or adopting one from a pet shelter to give it the unconditional love it deserves.
- The Teen Central website has plenty of valuable resources. Learn more about any issues you may have by clicking the Learn tab then Depression, Spirituality and more. The Tools tab has downloadable resources for positive reminders, a support plan, yoga poses and others. Read stories submitted by other teens by clicking the Stories tab.
HELP YOURSELF:
- In what other ways can being positive make your life better and improve the lives of others?
- How is worrying and feeling sad a waste of time compared to making positive changes in your life?
- How can having a positive mindset make your life easier and your future brighter?
- In what ways can you let your situation make you a stronger person?
- What are some things you can learn from worrying about others?
