Mental Health and the Cancer Journey
Written By: Katie Blais
Between doctor's appointments, treatments, specialist consultations and surgeries, a cancer journey is typically centered around physical health. While it is important to focus on your physical well-being during this time, your mental health can’t be ignored as a result. In this article, we explore the different approaches to caring for your mental well-being while undergoing treatment and navigating survivorship.
From therapy and professional help to support groups and meditation, nurturing and prioritizing your mental health is incredibly important as you navigate through the challenges of cancer. Let’s explore some ways to take care of your mental health together.
Navigating Professional Help Options
When seeking out professional help, it is important to understand the different types of support that exist for cancer patients and survivors. Psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers all bring a unique set of expertise and resources to help navigate mental health challenges. You may even be able to connect with an oncology social worker who specializes in working with people who have cancer. Here’s a quick breakdown of the type of care mental health professionals can provide, according to definitions from the Cleveland Clinic.
Psychiatrist: “A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can diagnose and treat mental, emotional and behavioral conditions. They can prescribe medications and other medical treatments.”
Psychologist: “A psychologist is a mental health professional who uses psychological evaluations and talk therapy to help people learn to better cope with life and relationship issues and mental health conditions.”
Licensed Clinical Social Worker: “A licensed clinical social worker has special training to diagnose and treat mental health and behavioral conditions. They provide individual, group, family and couples therapy.”
Licensed Healthcare Social Worker: “A licensed healthcare social worker can help you understand your diagnosis and what it means for your future. They may help you adjust your lifestyle, housing or medical needs to live more comfortably and independently. Some specialize in cancer-specific care.”
For further resources, click here to explore an in-depth guide presented by Triage Cancer that dives into how to access mental health care for cancer patients.
Types of Therapy to Explore
Once you understand what type of medical professional may be the best fit for you, it is also important to explore different therapy approaches to ensure a positive experience. Here are some approaches that can be specifically tailored for cancer patients and survivors.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): “Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a type of mental health therapy that helps you acknowledge your relationship with your thoughts and feelings,” according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): “Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a structured, goal-oriented type of talk therapy. It can help manage mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, and emotional concerns, such as coping with grief or stress,” according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Dignity Therapy: “Dignity therapy is a brief, individualized intervention designed to provide a sense of meaning and purpose among patients with terminal illness, thereby reducing distress in this patient population,” according to Psychiatry Online.
EMDR: “Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy treatment that is designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories,” according to the EMDR Institute. EMDR can help cancer patients and survivors process traumatic health-related experiences.
These are just a few therapy examples to consider that can be tailored to cancer-specific experiences. If you want to take care of your mental health but are interested in alternatives to professional help, here are some additional resources that may be helpful.
Support Groups
Support groups and group therapy offer cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers the chance to connect with their peers. This style of therapy helps people feel seen and can create a strong sense of community within the cancer network. For a more detailed list of cancer support groups, make sure to refer back to our article centered on community. You can read it here.
Practicing Mindfulness
Don’t underestimate the power of practicing mindfulness. Regular meditation, yoga, and guided imagery are all great ways to help reduce stress, anxiety, and fatigue. Click here to explore free mindfulness exercises created by CancerCare.
Interested in learning more about caring for your mental health during cancer? Make sure to tune into our episode with Dr. Christine Sells, where she dives into EMDR therapy, intrusive thoughts, and the overall cancer experience. The episode’s conversation is centered around stress management, survivorship, emotional processing, and support for people navigating cancer. You can listen to it here.