Emotional Support For Yourself During Cancer
Life after being diagnosed with cancer is never easy[1]. It is normal for you to experience a range of emotions like feeling frightened, sad, panicky, guilty or anxious at times. However, you must take charge of your emotional health by identifying your strengths, outlining your needs and developing goals. This will help make your days brighter, positive and return to normalcy.
Here are a few things you can do to help yourself manage your feelings during Cancer.
1. Stay Positive
It is possible to think positive without always feeling optimistic. Being positive also doesn’t mean that you plaster that smile on your face. It means accepting the fact that you have cancer, recognizing the effects that could arise from this cancer and taking charge of your emotional and physical health. Even if cancer is in an advanced stage, some treatments help relieve the symptoms.
Every time a negative thought enters your mind, replace it with a positive one. Being in a negative frame of mind will do more harm than good. It will affect your quality of life. Take charge of yourself by staying positive first. This will take time but will help you cope with the emotional distress.
2. Take Each Day As It Comes
Avoid thinking too much. Set goals for each day and build them up gradually. It can be as simple as – I will start my day by taking a morning walk or I will have a short chat with my best friend today. Plan your day and make sure you are fulfilling the goals you have set. Acknowledge yourself after you manage to fulfil each task.
You may not feel the change overnight but this activity will help you feel better and take charge of your emotional health.
3. Try Relaxation Techniques
Certain relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, tai chi, hypnotherapy etc. are known to have a relaxing effect on the mind. Choose any technique that you like or works for you. This will help you cope with emotional outbursts of fear, depression and anger. You could also opt for reflexology or a relaxing massage. Make sure you seek massage from a trained and qualified professional.
4. Share Your Feelings
Don’t be afraid to share your feelings with the people close to you. This is not a sign of weakness or vulnerability. You can choose to talk to someone whom you trust a lot and can listen to you. Sometimes, listening to some good music or having a cry may make you feel better.
Check out this technique and you will see how amazingly it will help you get better of your worries.
5. Keep A Journal
While not many would like to keep a journal jotting down about what they feel when after being diagnosed with cancer. But in reality, this will help you come to terms with it and understand your feelings better. By putting down your thoughts on a paper, you will release all that’s in your mind rather than holding onto them inside. Practice this habit even if it’s a few words each day.
Also, you would contemplate reading the journal after a few days to see the progress you are making. You may see that you are not feeling as bad as how you felt a month ago. If you like an art form such as drawing, painting, go ahead pursuing it and write down how you felt after making that painting. Art therapy is a wonderful way of expressing emotions.
It could be very difficult to come to terms that you have cancer. But finding ways to cope with it can help you feel better and get back to your normal routine.
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