You completed cancer treatment last year. Your friends and loved ones toasted your success and remission. But you have a hard time relating to people you once felt close to and your interactions with them feel distant and strained.  To them, it’s “over”, to you the feelings are all just still….there.

In childhood you went through multiple surgeries for a congenital condition. As a young adult you’re making your way in the world with chronic pain and your age makes it hard for people to understand your needs and abilities. It’s not something you talk much about. And it can be hard to ask friends to accommodate your body’s limits when planning fun activities.

Surgery was several months ago. Yet, you’re still not sleeping through the night. Sounds or stressful dreams jolt you awake. Lack of sleep is impacting work focus and you’re beginning to worry about your performance.

Your hard to get follow-up specialist appointment was cancelled at the height of the pandemic. You still haven't returned the call to reschedule. Every time you see the missed call you get anxious and feel a ton of bricks on your chest. You know you need to be seen, but it just feels like too much. When you’re living with a chronic illness, you know there’s a level of emotional energy it takes to schedule these appointments and you just don’t have it.