Personal Relationships
Authentic communication resonates better than pretense.
Realistic Optimism in Cancerville
by William Penzer, PhD
Not knowing what will happen brings out the frightened, confused, and overwhelmed parts of us in all life’s areas, and especially in Cancerville. The philosophy of realistic optimism seeks to offset our automatic pessimistic reactions. It strives to replace hopelessness with hopefulness, within realistic boundaries.
When Your Partner Has Cancer
by Drucilla Brethwaite, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, and Paul Clark, PhD, LCSW
A cancer diagnosis in the family can elicit strong emotions – fear, anger, sadness – and those strong emotions can interfere with your ability to problem solve and engage in life. In order to find a “new normal” after diagnosis, it helps to become aware of how you and your partner communicate and function as a team.
Women, Cancer, & Sexuality
by Ralph and Barbara Alterowitz
After cancer, women often feel they have lost a significant part of themselves and their sexuality. Mourning is natural. Women need to learn ways to cope with this loss. But when mourning locks you in, when you let it act as a kind of emotional quicksand, it compounds the tragedy of loss. Many women feel that their cancer has not just changed their sense of self, but has damaged it.
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