Facing mental health after breast cancer diagnosis

STRUGGLING WITH your mental health can start at any time when you have breast cancer. It could be after diagnosis, during treatment, or after treatment has finished. Your experiences can vary and can also depend on your circumstances.

According to Dr Pearnel Bell, clinical psychologist, knowing how cancer can affect your mental health can help you to take control, while acknowledging the difficult feelings you might experience.

“Being creative is a good way to support your mental well-being while dealing with cancer. It can help you to express difficult emotions and distract you from anxiety and distress,” Dr Bell said.

Mental health issues often have more than one single cause. This is why it is important to use more than one tool to manage it. Treatment for mental health issues works best when more than one strategy is used.

• Be kind to yourself: Ask yourself what you would say to a friend in your circumstances and apply it to yourself.

• You can ask for mental health support at any time: You don’t have to wait until you feel really bad to ask for help. It is helpful to form these links for when you need them.

• Think about how you coped in difficult situations before: See whether these strategies, such as doing art, dancing, gardening or knitting can help you now.

• Try to avoid habits that will worsen your mental health: This might be drinking too much alcohol or caffeine, or staying up late and overworking.

• Milestones in your treatment are important for mental health: It can help to focus on them and celebrate once you’ve reached them. For example, your hair growing back after chemotherapy.

• Make time for self-care: Include regular physical activity at a level and pace that is safe for you. It can boost your mental health.

PRIORITISING MENTAL HEALTH: ADDITIONAL TIPS FOR PATIENTS

• Seek professional support: There is a lot to unpack after receiving a cancer diagnosis, and therapy or counselling can be beneficial. The risk of clinical depression is higher, so it is important to know the signs and symptoms of depression and act quickly. A mental health professional can provide coping strategies, help process complex emotions and offer a safe space to express concerns. Some patients find solace in support groups, where they can connect with others facing similar challenges.

• Practise mindfulness and relaxation techniques: Techniques like meditation, deep-breathing exercises and yoga can help reduce stress and anxiety. This can be particularly helpful during times of physical pain. It is not always easy or possible to exercise with pain, but doing even a little bit of gentle movement within your body’s limits will help.

• Stay connected with loved ones: Isolation can worsen feelings of depression and anxiety. It can seem easier to withdraw from others when you’re feeling poorly, having negative thoughts about your health, or worried that you might become a burden to those around you. Stay connected with friends and family, even if it is virtually. Sharing your thoughts and fears with trusted loved ones can be a relief.

• Engage in activities you enjoy: Whether it is reading, gardening or listening to music, find activities that bring you joy and comfort. It does not have to be a full-blown or new hobby to be helpful. Simply doing things that you enjoy can provide a much-needed mental escape from the stress of treatment.

keisha.hill@gleanerjm.com

SOURCE: Jamaica Cancer Society