Dealing with Stress and Anxiety
Parents identify a range of emotions associated with the day their child was diagnosed with cancer--and the weeks that followed. These include sadness, fear, disbelief, confusion, numbness, denial, distrust, guilt and anger. Your feelings may progress in stages, from disbelief to denial, anxiety and fear.
As your child goes through treatment, your emotions will stabilize. Although you will probably find that life is never quite the same, in time you will develop a new sense of 'normal.' Remember: the cure rate is constantly increasing due to ongoing medical progress.
Below are some ways of dealing with your emotions during this difficult time:
- Give yourself permission to deal with positive and negative feelings. Recognize that these feelings are normal and healthy.
- Educate yourself about your child's diagnosis and treatment.
- Become a part of your child's treatment team. You know your child best, and the team will need your input.
- Recognize which areas of your child's life can be controlled and which cannot.
- Accept that some questions may not have answers.
- Find ways to express your feelings.
- Take care of yourself. Get enough sleep, eat properly, and exercise.
- Learn to accept help and support from others.
- Find a relaxing hobby like crocheting, knitting or woodworking.
- Connect with other parents of children with cancer through The National Children's Cancer Society's Care to Share Cancer Connection.
- Spend time with your other children.
- Learn relaxation techniques and how to pace yourself and set priorities.
- Join a support group or talk with a friend, counselor or clergy member.
- Keep a journal. Record special moments-happy ones, as well as sad. Memories of good times are invaluable.
- Find out about your child's actual risk of recurrence.
- Seek information about how to reduce these risks.
- Be willing to have potential problems evaluated.
- Talk about your fears with others.
