Coping with Stress

Frequently Asked Questions
  • Q.It has been one month since I returned to work, and I am experiencing various forms of stresses. How can I address this problem?
  • A.Since it has only been one month since you underwent surgery for stomach cancer, your body has not yet returned to its healthy state. You probably face various challenges, such as having to take care of your diet, uncertainty about work, and anxiety about recurrence of the illness, and experience much stress every day. While it is also necessary to address the respective challenges, it takes time to do so. Let’s consider ways to reduce the stress successfully even as you confront the challenges. An example of a way to alleviate stress would be to gradually begin taking up your old hobbies again.

    In particular, if there are any hobbies that do not require you to move your body, try starting them right away. It would probably be difficult to take up hobbies that require you to move your body in the same way as you did before. However, even just talking to your friends about it may refresh and change your mood, and help to relieve stress. Moreover, realizing anew the presence of friends who have been waiting for you, and who are delighted at your recovery from the illness, should also soothe your mind and heart.

  • Q.I cannot talk to the people around people even when I feel stressed.
  • A.Talk to family and friends who are important to you about your stress and challenges, and consider the solutions together with them. The stress and challenges will not be resolved immediately simply by talking to them, but the process of thinking of solutions together is an important one. In that process, you will become aware of your problems and feelings that you had not been aware of, as well as the thoughts and feelings of your family and friends. This should help you to accept the current situation and move forward to the next step. Do not face your stresses and challenges alone, but talk to the people around you. This will take you on the first step toward alleviating stress and addressing your challenges.

  • Q.I am considering continuing with my hobbies after surgery. What are the things that I should be careful about?
  • A.There will be many changes to your life after surgery, beginning with your diet, and stress may build up easily when you tailor your life accordingly to the changes. It is a great idea to continue with your hobbies as one of the pleasures of your life. You should be able to take up hobbies that do not require you to move your body much (such as painting, Japanese chess, or handicrafts) soon after the surgery. As your physical stamina and ability to concentrate may decline, it would probably be better to begin with short periods of activity. For hobbies that require you to move your body (such as trekking, golf, or cycling), wait until you have recovered your physical strength, then begin gradually with light exercises such as stretching and walking. This will help to restore your physical strength and energy, and enrich your life further.

  • Q.I enjoy playing golf. How soon after the surgery can I start playing golf again?
  • A.Moving your body under the blue sky can help you build up physical strength as well as alleviate stress. We definitely recommend continuing with it after your surgery. You will regain your physical strength about one month after the surgery. After that, it would be advisable to start gradually with walking or playing at the driving range, then move onto the golf course only after you have regained your physical strength. When you first head to the golf course after your surgery, it is necessary to pay attention to ensuring that you play with people whom you can talk to freely without any hesitation, that the season and weather are suitable for outdoor exercises, that it only takes a short time to travel to the golf course, that you can play at a leisurely pace on a day when your schedule is free, and that you should use a golf buggy to move around the course during the game as far as possible. If you experience extreme fatigue, it is important to explain the situation to those playing with you, and stop playing the round and switch to watching other members of the group play instead. As for the social gatherings that take place after the game, it would be a good idea to consider your physical condition and excuse yourself from attending if necessary.

  • Q.I have heard that it is a good idea to interact with others who have the same illness. In what ways is this a good idea?
  • A.Interacting with others who have the same illness is a very good idea, so please be sure to do so. It is precisely because you have shared a similar experience that you will be able to empathize with one another. Through that empathy, you may realize that you have the support of your family and friends, things that you only understood after falling ill, and that you are not the only one who is suffering. It may also be a trigger in helping you experience small joys and make your heart feel lighter. Furthermore, by discussing and exchanging information about the treatment and recuperation of the same illness can help you to gain new knowledge. There may also be instances where you can get a real sense that your own knowledge and experiences are useful to others in the same boat. On the other hand, talking to people you do not know for the first time requires much care and consideration, so how about adopting a casual attitude of “gradually increasing the number of acquaintances” when interacting with others?

  • Q.How can I get to know others who have the same illness, outside of the hospital?
  • A.A place where you can interact with others who have the same illness outside of the hospital is the “Alpha Club,” a patient’s association for those who have undergone gastric surgery. The Alpha Club launched its activities from 1982, and now has about 2,800 active members. It publishes a newsletter every month and organizes lectures from time to time. How about participating actively in such groups and interacting with other members? Patients who have overcome the same illness and surgery as well as gone through similar experiences often understand each other well, so you may be able to find effective solutions to your problems and ways of alleviating stress.


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