Emotional Well-being
Tips for Caregivers
Helping Your Loved One Cope during the Holidays
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. But the demands of the holiday season can overwhelm even the healthiest and most energetic among us. For individuals battling chronic pain, holiday stress and anxiety can be magnified, making symptoms even worse.
Denial
by Suzanne M. Miller, PhD
Denial can be good. As one of the psyche’s primary defense mechanisms, denial is a natural way of distracting from or selectively editing out a painful reality. Since the late 19th century, however, when Sigmund Freud described denial in his psychodynamic theories as a maladaptive coping defense, the common wisdom has asserted that if we deny negative aspects of our lives, such as a threatening medical situation, we’re probably harming ourselves by not taking actions that could improve our health.
Overcoming Depression
by Caryl D. Fulcher, MSN, CNS-BC
One of the challenges faced by people with cancer is trying to remain positive during uncertain times. So it is not surprising that experts report that the prevalence of depression among people with cancer ranges from 5 percent to 60 percent, with 20 percent most commonly quoted.
Adult Cancer Survivors at Increased Risk of Psychological Distress
Long-term survivors of cancer that developed in adulthood are at increased risk of experiencing serious psychological distress, according to a report in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Discovering the Treasure Within
by Wendy Treynor, PhD
Failing to appreciate who you are is like failing to appreciate the cereus flower in bloom – a flower that is in bloom for only one night. At the end of your life, you may realize that you threw away the most precious gift you were ever given – your life. Here, I share my story with you, so you won’t make the same mistake I almost made.
Understanding the Role of Hope in Cancer Care
by Sharon Chappy, RN, PhD, CNOR
Hope is important for people living with cancer, as it helps them adapt to the diagnosis, provide meaning, maintain well-being, and give direction. Recently, 14 people living with cancer and actively undergoing chemotherapy participated in a study where they told their stories of hope.
What’s So Funny About Cancer?
by Mack Dryden
I’m a comedian and a two-time cancer survivor, and I make people laugh about my experiences with the disease until their faces hurt. Unusual job, true, but I want to convince people that it’s not only okay but also a duty to laugh if you’re touched by cancer.
Music – It’s good for the body, mind, and soul
by Dawn McDougal Miller, MME, MT-BC, FAMI
Music can be a wonderful tool for people with cancer. Music touches our hearts and souls in many ways. A growing body of research supports the physiological benefits of music, which include boosting the immune system, reducing heart rate and blood pressure, and facilitating the relaxation response.
