In this episode of The Grass Gets Greener podcast, I'm joined by Debbie Woodbury of WhereWeGoNow. Debbie joins me to share her story of surviving breast cancer and learning to thrive in a new normal, and the healing that comes from sharing your story.
Click the play button below to check it out!
The Details
Traumatic experience:
Debbie experienced breast cancer that led her to need a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. She's also dealt with miscarriages and infertility. In addition to health traumas, Debbie has also experienced abuse and bullying.
Effects of the traumatic experience:
Debbie has dealt with body image issues as a result of the mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. Her cancer also had an effect on everyone in her life and it was a very stressful time for her. Cancer was her life 24/7. She's had to deal with anger, grief, loneliness and feeling isolated. She's also had to deal with living in a new normal while everyone else went back to the way things were before the cancer. She still struggles today when she has to go for breast exams and gets triggered and worried that it could all happen again.
Overcoming the traumatic experience:
What's helped Debbie to overcome the effects of her traumatic experience has been to realize that not everything in this new way of life after trauma has to be bad. She's used therapy, yoga and helping others deal with cancer as ways to heal. She's also found healing in sharing her story with others.
What Debbie does today:
Debbie runs her personal website along with the website for WhereWeGoNow for other cancer survivors. Debbie is also the author of two books, and a contributor for The Huffington Post. She's also going to be a contributor for CURE Today. She's also a speaker and is planning to do more speaking in the future.
Final Question:
Given what you know now, if you could go back to when you were going through the tough times and give yourself one piece of advice, what would it be?
Debbie's Answer: To make sure to have a support network from the beginning and to focus on being in the moment rather than thinking things will always be bad.
Links Mentioned
WhereWeGoNow - Debbie's website for cancer survivors
DebbieWoodbury.com - Debbie's personal website
@DebbieWWGN - Debbie's Twitter profile
WhereWeGoNow As Cancer Survivors - WhereWeGoNow's Facebook page
You Can Thrive After Treatment - Debbie's first book
How to Build an Amazing Life After Treatment - Debbie's second book
Affiliate Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links. There is no additional cost to you, and I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase.
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