Emma shares her Invictus Games story
Summary
TLDRIn 2016, the speaker was diagnosed with stage two glioma, a brain tumor, but has remained treatment-free. Initially struggling with depression and anxiety, they found solace through psychiatry, psychology, and the Invictus Games, which provided a sense of purpose and community. The speaker emphasizes the importance of staying engaged in social activities and taking ownership of one's health. They also highlight the benefits of companionship, such as owning a pet, in managing illness and maintaining mental well-being.
Takeaways
- 🏥 The speaker was diagnosed with stage two glioma, a type of brain tumor, in 2016.
- 💤 The tumor has remained dormant, and the speaker has not required treatment thus far.
- 😔 Initially, the diagnosis led to feelings of depression and anxiety due to being run down and without a support partner.
- 👩⚕️ A referral to a psychiatrist and psychologist helped manage the low mood disorder and anxiety.
- 🏋️♂️ The Invictus Games team and support network played a significant role in psychological recovery.
- 🚴♂️ Engaging in sports and having a purpose helped the speaker get out of bed and train every day.
- 🏆 Participation in the Invictus Games provided a sense of identity and community reengagement.
- 👫 The speaker observed the positive impact of the games on team members who were previously reclusive.
- 😌 The speaker has accepted the diagnosis and it no longer causes the same level of stress.
- 📢 Advice for dealing with illness includes staying engaged in community or sports, taking ownership of health, and seeking help promptly.
- 🐶 Getting a pet provided companionship and facilitated social interaction, which was beneficial during the recovery process.
Q & A
What type of brain tumor was the speaker diagnosed with in 2016?
-The speaker was diagnosed with a stage two glioma in 2016.
How has the speaker's brain tumor affected them since the diagnosis?
-The speaker has been fortunate that the tumor has remained dormant, and they haven't had to receive any treatment.
What mental health issues did the speaker experience after the diagnosis?
-The speaker suffered from a low mood disorder, depression, and anxiety surrounding the diagnosis.
What role did the Invictus Games team play in the speaker's life?
-The Invictus Games team was a part of the speaker's support network and provided a sense of purpose and motivation to train and represent their country.
How did the Invictus Games impact the speaker's teammates?
-The Invictus Games helped some of the speaker's teammates who were previously reclusive to engage in community organizations and participate in an international sporting event.
What advice does the speaker give to others dealing with illness?
-The speaker advises staying engaged in community organizations or sports teams, taking ownership of one's health, and seeking help for mental health issues.
How does the speaker feel about their diagnosis now?
-The speaker has accepted their diagnosis, moved on, and it no longer causes them the stress it used to.
What is one practical tip the speaker suggests for those going through a similar experience?
-The speaker suggests getting a pet, like a dog, for companionship and as a way to engage with others and different social networks.
What was the speaker's initial reaction to their diagnosis?
-The speaker was initially very miserable about the diagnosis and felt it could have tipped them over the edge due to their already low energy and mood.
How did the speaker's support network help them cope with their diagnosis?
-The speaker's support network, including specialists and the Invictus Games team, played a huge part in helping them cope by providing psychological support and a sense of purpose.
What is the significance of the Invictus Games for the speaker and their teammates?
-The Invictus Games is significant as it provides a platform for individuals to regain a sense of identity, community, and purpose, which can be crucial for mental and emotional well-being after facing illness or injury.
Outlines
🏥 Overcoming a Brain Tumor Diagnosis
The speaker shares their experience of being diagnosed with a stage two glioma in 2016, a type of brain tumor. They express gratitude for the tumor remaining dormant and not requiring treatment. They discuss the emotional impact of the diagnosis, including feelings of misery and the lack of a support person. The speaker highlights the importance of mental health support, mentioning referrals to a psychiatrist and psychologist to cope with a low mood disorder, depression, and anxiety. They also emphasize the role of the Invictus Games team in providing a sense of purpose and community, which helped in their recovery journey.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡glioma
💡dormant
💡psychiatrist
💡psychologist
💡low mood disorder
💡Invictus Games
💡engagement
💡ownership
💡companionship
💡mental health
💡represent
Highlights
Diagnosed with stage two glioma, a type of brain tumor, in 2016.
The tumor has remained dormant without needing treatment.
Initially felt run down and tired, potentially leading to a mental breakdown.
Lack of a close support system during diagnosis made the situation more challenging.
Referred to a psychiatrist and psychologist for low mood disorder and anxiety.
Specialists and support network played a crucial role in coping with the diagnosis.
Participation in Invictus Games provided a sense of purpose and motivation.
Invictus Games team helped in re-engaging with communities post-military service.
Witnessed the positive impact of Invictus Games on team members' social engagement.
Currently feeling good and not letting the diagnosis affect daily life.
Acceptance and moving on from the diagnosis has reduced stress.
Advice for dealing with illness includes staying engaged in community or sports.
Encourages taking ownership of one's health and seeking help for mental health issues.
Getting a dog provided companionship and facilitated social interaction.
Emphasizes the importance of staying engaged, taking ownership, and having companionship.
Transcripts
In 2016 I was diagnosed with a stage two glioma,
which is a type of brain tumour.
I've been fortunate enough up until this point
that it has remained dormant
and I haven't had to receive any treatment.
I think at that point, because I was so run down and tired,
that diagnosis would have tipped me
over the edge a little bit,
and there was a huge potential for me to retreat.
I was pretty miserable about it.
My family live in Tasmania, I was single at the time
and I didn't have that one person that I could really turn to.
From my diagnosis, my GP referred me
to a psychiatrist and psychologist.
I was suffering with a low mood disorder,
a bit of depression and anxiety surrounding that diagnosis,
and with those specialists and also my support network,
that played a huge part in that,
and that includes the Invictus Games team last year.
For me, it's very much a part of looking after myself.
I think, psychologically giving myself something
to aim towards, and a purpose, and a driving factor
to get out of bed every morning and train,
and also another opportunity to represent my country.
I'm lucky enough that I'm still serving,
but I've seen it over my years that once that identity is
taken away, people really suffer to reengage
with their communities. I think Invictus Games
last year was just testament to that.
We had members on the team that wouldn't leave the house
and now they're engaging in community organisations,
they were part of a team, they walked out
on an international sporting stage in Toronto,
and I can only see it getting better from here in Sydney.
I'm feeling really good.
I am at the point now where my diagnosis
doesn't play on my mind.
I've accepted it, I've moved on.
It's not to say that I don't think of it occasionally,
but it certainly doesn't cause me
the stress that it used to.
My advice, or my top tips I guess, for dealing with illness
and coming to terms with that illness
is to remain engaged, whether it be
in a community organisation or sports team,
your social network. Just stay engaged and
as much as you might like to retreat, don't let yourself.
Also, take ownership over your health and really strive.
If you notice that something is wrong
or something is not quite right, especially in regards
to your mental health, flag it straight away.
Seek the help, there's always options.
I got a dog.
I know that sounds silly, but companionship
is really important, especially if you're alone
and you're going through something like this,
and by getting a dog it enabled me to go out walking
and then from there you meet other people
and you're engaging in a completely different network
just by having a pet.
So, little things like that are really important to me.
Stay engaged, take ownership,
and have a companion in whatever form.
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