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[quote=Anonymous]I'm so sorry! I hope it is early stage and your treatment plan is encouraging.

Here's what I would do - and I understand if this isn't quite right for your family dynamics.

Inlaws: I would have my DH call and tell them once you have all the information, and I'd ask him to tell them that I need some space to process things right now and if they want to send any messages, to do it through him or send via text/email. And then I'd set up a filter so emails went into a folder I could look at on my time, I'd give directions on how much I wanted DH to tell me, and if texts got out of control I might temporarily turn them off from those people.

My mom: I would unfollow her on Facebook so I didn't need to see what she was posting about the stress. Not unfriend, but just unfollow so it doesn't pop up. Depending on your relationship with brother/SIL, perhaps they would agree to be your mom's sounding board. Tell her that you really need to focus on staying positive (prove to be helpful during treatment!) and if she needs to worry and vent, you totally understand but she needs to call brother/SIL.

Basically, I would set up pre-emptive boundaries, and if people crossed them - I'd get real firm, real quick about enforcing them. Only you can decide what those boundaries are, but it is absolutely appropriate for you to tell people what you need from them right now and just remove yourself from situations where they aren't giving it to you.

The book Boundaries by Henry Cloud may be helpful, if you ever need some encouragement in this area.

Again, sending you good thoughts for healing. [/quote]

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