How to Handle Your Emotions After a Cancer Diagnosis

According to the National Cancer Institute, when a person is first diagnosed with cancer, he or she may deal with an upsurge of emotions. These feelings can change by the minute or hour and can feel frighteningly intense. The important thing to understand is that feelings of fear, stress, denial, overwhelm, anger, and more are all normal.

How to Handle Your Emotions After a Cancer Diagnosis
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Here are 5 common feelings and how to handle them in a safe way after a cancer diagnosis.

1. I feel overwhelmed and helpless.

Medical treatment plans, immunotherapy options, and more. It takes time for the brain to process new information. So feeling slightly out of control as a wave of medical lingo comes at you is a common feeling. The best way to fight feelings of helplessness is to create a plan. Get your family together and ask for help in listing your options for care and what you should be focusing on. Explain that you need help with shouldering this load. This is what family is for. Also, give it time. Within a couple of days, you will be familiar with these new medical terms, and soon you will be spouting them off like a pro.

2. I feel scared about my future and my family’s future. 

Fear is an inborn trait that keeps the human species alive. Fear in a moderate form is a healthy means of regulating unsafe activities. In too large a dose, it becomes hazardous to your mental health and emotional stability. So what can you do about your fears? Make a list detailing every fear that is presently bothering you. Ask a friend or a family member to go through this list with you. From concerns about money, to worry over family, information and practical steps are effective ways to combat fear of the unknown.

3. I feel sad all the time. 

Not being able to do all that you were able to, plus thoughts of a prolonged struggle with cancer can have even the most upbeat person feeling down. Depression in cancer patients is a common occurrence. You may find yourself feeling moody, numb, nervous, or having a hard time concentrating, etc. Your doctor might recommend medicine to help you combat depression or help you sleep. Just because you are sick does not mean you need to abandon those things that you used to find pleasure in. Laughter is a form of medicine, so actively peruse those things that make you smile.

4. I feel alone and distant from everyone. 

Did you have friends at work that you are now unable to see due to your sickness? And with time spent in the hospital, your time with your family is also restricted, which can make you feel cut off from loved ones. You may also feel like others do not understand what you are going through. Connecting with others during this time can feel like wishful thinking. It’s not. Cancer support groups can offer you a deep level of emotional support and understanding. Ask around about what support groups your hospital has registered, or have your family look into this for you.

How to Handle Your Emotions After a Cancer Diagnosis
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5. I feel guilty that I may have caused this. 

Guilt is a common feeling when a person suffers from a life-threatening sickness. You may wonder if you caused it through certain diet or other health-related choices you made in your past. But cancer can happen to the young and to the old. Or you may have been susceptible to this cancer due to an inherited gene. Talk to a counselor to help you overcome your feelings of guilt. Therapy sessions could be what you need to help you work through those feelings and gain clarity.

Remember, there is no “right” way to feel after being diagnosed with cancer. But finding ways to cope with your feelings will help improve your quality of life during this time.

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