Caring for Yourself
Medications are helpful to some people suffering from depression, anxiety, and high levels of distress. Depression and anxiety involve physiological changes in the brain and can be helped with medications such as anti-depressants and anti-anxiety prescriptions. Sometimes people are reluctant to take such medication because they are afraid it means that they are weak or [...]
Despite the fact that my son was diagnosed with cancer almost two months ago, I constantly think about his cancer and feel down much of the time. What should I do? Would counseling help? Despite using adaptive coping skills, many people still find that further guidance is helpful. A good place to start finding help [...]
I am not really interested in attending a group or talking with a bunch of people about my caregiver concerns. Where do I find other caregivers with whom I can talk one-on-one? Buddy programs exist that link fellow caregivers together for added emotional support and information exchange, ranging from basic advice to more complex problems, [...]
What are support groups and how can they help me? If I decide to try out a group, how do I locate one right for me? People with cancer and their family members often find that talking to other people who are also affected by cancer helps them understand that they are not alone. They [...]
Even though I feel overwhelmed, I don’t think it’s right to think of my needs right now. Shouldn’t I be doing everything possible to help the patient? In times of crisis and great distress, we are often able to summon tremendous reserves of strength and endurance to protect and support our loved ones who are [...]
I have not seen my friends for weeks. Sometimes I feel that I just need to get away from the hospital, doctors, and the cancer for a while. How can I do this without feeling too guilty? Spending time with your friends and supportive family members is one of the most important buffers against stress [...]
Am I getting “burned out”? What are the signs, and how do you prevent caregiver burnout? The chronic stresses of caregiving—being responsible and providing care for another person while adjusting your own life according to that person’s needs—can leave you feeling overburdened, resentful, and depressed. Unless these stresses are relieved, or you find ways to [...]
How Can I Manage This Practically? Focus on one day at a time, one moment at a time, and solving one problem at a time. Try to move beyond thinking about the past, “what-ifs,” and “why’s.” Instead, focus on the present and about how you and your partner are going to cope with the current [...]
Lately I seem to think a lot about other bad things that have happened to me in my life. I don’t usually dwell on the past. Is something wrong with me now? Thinking about the past can serve many useful purposes. When things go wrong and life becomes difficult, it’s natural to wonder why such [...]