Counseling For Cancer Issues – Counseling To Help You Cope With Your Cancer Diagnosis
It used to be that cancer was a word that was only whispered because it was so scary. Thankfully, today many cancer patients survive (and thrive) many years after their diagnosis. Yet, hearing the words “You have cancer” is still something that no one wants to hear as it means that you need surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy to be cured. Cancer interrupts your work, your family life, and your social life for a while.
There are a wide range of thoughts and emotions that accompany a cancer diagnosis that are completely normal. However, these thoughts and feelings may not feel normal because you may not have felt them before. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, sleep problems, and relationship challenges very typically occur along with all the effects of cancer or its treatment. However, just because these emotional challenges are typical and even understandable given what cancer patients are going through, it doesn’t mean that the only option is to endure those feelings of anxiety, depression, anger etc.
Many cancer patients believe or are told by family and friends that in order to survive cancer that they have to have a positive attitude and be strong at all costs. People without a cancer diagnosis cannot be positive and strong all the time. Therefore, it is unrealistic to expect that people with cancer should be able to maintain that attitude on top of everything else they are trying to cope with (like nausea, hair loss, low sex drive, medical bills etc.) as they progress through their cancer treatment.
However, this unrealistic expectation can lead cancer patients to think that they should be able to handle challenging emotions and stressful situations WITHOUT counseling or medications. To seek help would mean that they aren’t “strong” and are failing to have a positive attitude. Nothing could be further from the truth! Studies in psycho-oncology show that seeking emotional support and receiving treatment for symptoms of depression and anxiety while going through cancer treatment improves quality of life and those patients are better able to tolerate their treatment and stay on their treatment schedule.
Dana Nolan is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with over 15 years experience working with individuals and families who are coping with a cancer diagnosis. She has presented at regional and national conferences to cancer survivors and health care professionals about the emotional and psychological challenges facing cancer survivors.
A mental health therapist can help provide additional information about cancer issues and Finding the right counselor is important. Therapeutic relationships are built on trust, honesty and mutual respect between the therapist and the client. It is important to find a counselor with whom you feel comfortable sharing your thoughts and feelings AND who has the necessary expertise to help you reach your goals. For that reason, we offer a free brief phone consultation to ensure that we are the right fit for you. If you would like to discuss some other issue(s), please don’t hesitate to contact Dana Nolan at 407-340-2474.
Counseling Services – Psychotherapy For Cancer and Cancer Diagnosis