Well, here it goes. Anger is a form of grief. I am going to get angry over stupid stuff once in a while. Family and friends without cancer, I've tried explaining this to you, but some listen better than others.
I don't mean to get angry, but it's because I'm depressed. Not right now, but in that moment when I'm angry. And seriously, if I tell you it's because I'm depressed and you express no sympathy, it makes me more angry. Keeping up your defenses and not trying to empathize is probably the worst thing you can do. But, it's an eye opener. The ones that know something is wrong with me because I don't normally get mad and just let it go....those are my true family and friends. Because they know me down to my very core. They know I'm in pain emotionally and let me vent and say things like "I'm sorry" or agree with me just to shut me up (I know). But that means a lot.
You see, it does get easier living with this on one end, but on the other, you can (and are totally entitled) to feel angry. I rarely do it according to my husband who took the girls to the beach and pool that day so I could cry without anyone around. He knows me and he knew what to do. He empathized, asked what he could do, and I told him I needed to be alone, just a bad day. For him to do that just shows how much he would do for me. He had a billion other things to do, but he knew I didn't want Karley seeing me upset so he dropped everything for me.
Family and friends, grief can rear it's ugly head in many forms, and one of them is anger. I'm asking you, before you get defensive and fight back, to think to yourself, "is this normal Samantha or is this Loco Samantha" And if it's Loco Samantha, please, help me, don't hurt me by ignoring me or yelling at me.
I'm not trying to be mean by writing this post. It is not often I get down, but when I do, I get really down. And I am entitled to that periodically. I am entitled to get mad, yell, even smash plates (yes I've done that, don't worry, increased my meds).
That's the part about living with lung cancer most people don't get. "She looks fine, and has no active cancer, she's fine, why is she acting like that?"
Well, cancer doesn't jut hurt you physically, it will break you apart piece by piece emotionally. It will shatter your heart again and again. And the longer I've lived with it, the harder it's gotten emotionally. And no, It's not gone. I'm not in "remission". I'm dealing with this for the rest of my life.
I finally got down on my knees and prayed that God take this burden and sadness. Then I went to sleep and woke up feeling so much better.
Just know, I'm not okay inside, not always. It's something I will deal with for the rest of my life. And the family and friends that care enough to stay in my life need to know that. Because if you don't understand that, and think I'm just throwing myself a pity party, walk in my shoes for one day dammit, and see how you handle it. And if you don't want to empathize or have a little compassion, well, you can go and I will understand. It's hard to be my friend I'm sure. But I didn't choose this life, it chose me and I'm making the best I can out of it.
I'm not directing this towards anyone in particular. I'm just putting into words what I can't always say to people. Please don't be offended and just take it in. I'm not "playing the cancer card". I'm expressing my true, raw emotions and I need my family and friends to be able to handle that, because it's already hard enough for me to.
