Chemotherapy can cause huge changes in your personal life. It can impact your overall health, threaten your overall well-being, change your daily routine, and put a strain on your relationships. It's no wonder that many people feel anxious, anxious or angry at some point during treatment.
These emotions are completely normal and understandable, but they can be disturbing. Fortunately, there are ways to deal with these emotional "side effects," just as there are ways to deal with the physical side effects of chemotherapy.
HOW CAN I RECEIVE THE SUPPORT I NEED?
THERE ARE MANY SOURCES OF SUPPORT FROM WHICH YOU CAN DRAW FROM. HERE ARE SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT:
– Doctors and nurses. If you have any questions or concerns about treatment, talk to members of your medical team and do not be put off.
– Specialists. There are many types of therapists who can help you express, understand and cope with the emotions caused by cancer treatment. Depending on your preferences and needs, you can talk to a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, sexologist or priest. In our foundation, patients receive free support from a Psycho-oncologist and a Psychiatrist
– Friends and family members. Talking to friends or family members can help you feel better. They can often support you in ways that others cannot.
It is possible that you will have to take the first step towards your loved ones and friends. Many people do not understand cancer and may distance themselves from you by saying something out of place. You can help others manage these fears by talking honestly about the disease, its treatment, needs and feelings. By talking honestly, many misconceptions about cancer can be dispelled. You can also help others realize that there is no such thing as the "right" thing to say. When people know they can talk openly with you, they may be more willing to open up and provide support.
HOW CAN I MAKE MY DAILY LIFE EASIER?
HERE ARE SOME TIPS ON HOW TO HELP YOURSELF DURING CHEMOTHERAPY:
– Try to remember the goals of treatment, including: to stay positive on bad days.
– Remember that healthy eating is very important. Your body needs food to rebuild tissues and regain health. If you don't know how to eat optimally, contact us for support Oncodietetics
– Learn as much as you can about your disease and treatment method. This can reduce fear of the unknown and increase your sense of control over the situation.
– Keep a diary or journal during treatment. A journal of your thoughts and activities can help you understand the feelings associated with your illness and identify questions you want to ask your doctor. You can also use a journal to record how you deal with side effects and how effective they are. This way, if side effects come back, you will know which methods worked for you.
– Set realistic goals and don't be too demanding of yourself. You may not have as much energy as usual, so rest as much as you can, don't worry about trivial things and only do what is most important.
– Try a new hobby and learn something new.
– Do physical exercise whenever possible. Physical activity will help fight tension, anger and increase appetite. Ask your doctor or nurse for a safe exercise program.
HOW CAN I GET RID OF STRESS?
There are many ways to relieve stress caused by illness or treatment. The techniques described below will help you relax. They may also help relieve nausea and vomiting that may occur during treatment. Try some of these methods and find the one that works best for you. If you have lung problems, consult your doctor first before using a deep breathing technique.
MUSCLE TENSION
Lie down in a quiet room. Take a slow, deep breath. As you inhale, contract a specific muscle or muscle group. For example, you may close your eyes tightly, clench your teeth, make a fist, or tense your arms or legs. Hold your breath and hold your muscles tense for a second or two. Then exhale, release the tension and allow your body to relax completely. Repeat the entire process with the other muscle or muscle group.
You can also try a variation of this method called "progressive relaxation." Starting with the toes of one foot and working your way up, tense and relax all the muscles in one leg. Then do the same with the other leg. Then tense and relax the remaining muscle groups, including those in your skull. Remember to hold your breath when you tense and release your breath when you relax.
RHYTHMIC BREATHING
Find a comfortable position and relax all your muscles. If your eyes are open, focus on an object in the distance. If you have your eyes closed, imagine a calm scene or "clear" your mind and concentrate on your breathing.
Breathe slowly through your nose. If you want, you can keep the rhythm by saying to yourself, “Inhale, one-two; “Exhale, one-two.” Relax and feel the inertia as you exhale.
You can use this technique for just a few seconds, or you can go up to 10 minutes. Finish your rhythmic breathing by counting slowly and silently from one to three.
BIOLOGICAL REACTIONS
Using the biological reaction method, you can control body functions such as heartbeat, blood pressure and muscle tension. A special machine senses when the body shows tension signals and notifies you by making a sound or turning on a light. After some time, you will be able to control your resting responses without having to rely on a machine. Your doctor or nurse will refer you to someone trained in teaching the biological reaction method.
IMAGINATIONS
Imagery is a method similar to daydreaming using all the senses. This is usually done with your eyes closed. First, breathe slowly and feel relaxed. Imagine a ball of healing energy – it could be white light – forming somewhere in your body. Once you "see" this ball, imagine that with each inhale you can move the ball to any part of your body where you feel pain, tension or other discomfort, such as nausea.
As you exhale, imagine that the air moves the ball away from your body, taking away any painful or uncomfortable sensations (breathe naturally; do not blow). Imagine this ball moving closer and further away with each inhalation and exhalation. It is possible that the ball will get bigger, taking away more and more tension and bad feelings.
To finish the imagery, slowly count to three, breathe deeply, open your eyes and say "I feel relaxed."
VISUALIZATION
Visualization is a method similar to imagination. In the case of visualization, there is an internal image that represents your own cancer treatment. Some people undergoing chemotherapy use images of missiles destroying their cancer cells or knights in armor fighting cancer cells. Others paint the image of white blood cells or drugs attacking cancer cells.
Visualization and imagery are excellent methods for getting rid of stress and increasing your sense of self-control. However, it is important to remember that they can never replace the therapy your doctor has prescribed for your cancer treatment.
HYPNOSIS
Hypnosis puts you in a trance-like state that helps reduce stress and tension. You can be hypnotized by a trained person, or you can learn to self-hypnotize yourself. If you are interested in this method, ask your doctor or nurse to refer you to a specialist.
DISTRACTION
Use this method whenever an activity takes your mind off your worries. Try watching TV, listening to the radio, reading, going to the cinema, doing crafts, doing jigsaws, building models or painting.
You will be surprised how nicely time can pass.
