Anchor's Away

Have you ever stopped to think about what anchors you to your life?  I've been thinking about the things that keep us grounded and on an even keel.  (I will try not to go overboard with the nautical analogies). 
We all have different life anchors, things, people, events, tasks that we depend on to keep us sane and relatively "normal".  By normal I mean normal for ourselves, not what others would consider as normal.  When an anchor shifts or detaches itself from us we feel lost and uncertain.  Very lost....very uncertain.  
Now imagine losing two life anchors or even three.  Wow,  you feel adrift in a sea of emotion.  Wave after wave of various feelings.  All cast adrift with nothing to hold them down, nothing to give you a secure or safe feeling.  You get depressed and despondent. You feel alone, like no one really cares about you.  The real you.  No one understands your particular pain. 
That is what cancer can do to you.  If we have lost personal or work anchors  and add cancer into the mix, it generates the most powerful concoction of emotions.  
But, but, but!   This downward spiral of emotions and negative feelings can be overcome.  It takes time and effort. Enormous mental effort.  
The solution is to be your own anchor.  That is what really is missing,  we have to first depend on ourselves for our emotional support.  We must become our own best friend.  Then with the help of family and friends we start the healing process.  Very long, arduous task.  Lean on your friends and let them lean on you.  Give and take.  Trust and support.  God helps those who help themselves.  But God also helps us through our loved ones and friends.  
So what a team we develop.  Ourselves, God, family and friends.  We get our anchors back.  We dock in safe harbor again.  We get on with our lives. 
(Oh, by the way.  I lied about the nautical analogies.)