Sharing uncomplicated truths to encourage and educate women to embrace their healing power.
A personal update 🙏🏻
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I recently had my cancer scans, Reader. Most of you know my story, but for those of you who don't - I live with Stage 4 Breast Cancer, and a permanently broken hip! (If you're interested to read more, check out my blog posts on my website.) Getting the line in my arm was the most stressful event of the day. Two doctors, three nurses and an ultrasound machine eventually negotiated success with my very tricky veins. But the news I had been hoping for was shared with me a little earlier than expected at a doctors appointment last week.. My cancer scans are clear. Woo! My broken hip, unfortunately, is still a bit of a mess. So while one part of me is breathing a huge sigh of relief, another part is facing the reality that my body still has some healing and uncertainty ahead. That’s the thing about health anxiety. Even when we receive reassuring news, the nervous system doesn’t always get the memo. After illness, pain or a frightening diagnosis, the mind can remain on high alert, scanning, imagining the worst and trying to protect us by staying one step ahead. But that protection can become a loop: Fearful thought → anxious feeling → distraction → brief relief (without resolution) → more fear. And eventually, that loop of constant fear doesn’t only affect our health. It can influence our relationships, work, sleep, decisions and our ability to be present in our own lives. If this feels familiar, try this gentle three-step pause: 1. Name what is happening: “My mind is trying to protect me by predicting danger.” 2. Separate fact from fear: “What do I actually know right now, and what am I creating?” 3. Return to the present: Place a hand on your body, slowly exhale and ask: “What would help me feel supported in this moment?” This isn't about avoidance, it's about taking a pause and giving your physiology a moment to remember safety in your own body. An act of radical faith, if you will.. As for me, I’m celebrating the clear scans while taking the next step with my hip. Relief and challenge can exist together. Healing isn’t always about feeling completely fearless. Sometimes it’s learning how to be present in all that feels uncertain, and creating moments of peace, regardless. Because you value your wellness. Do you have a health story, Reader? Click reply and let me know how you're doing. With love, Ali xx |
Ali Williams (alijwilliams.com)
Sharing uncomplicated truths to encourage and educate women to embrace their healing power.
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