Talking
Talking about your diagnosis can be comforting and can help you feel less anxious and more in control.
The South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust website includes information about psychology and therapy in cancer services and local or national support options that are available to support cancer patients’ and their carers’ psychological wellbeing.
Coping
There are many unpleasant thoughts and feelings that a cancer diagnosis and living with cancer can trigger.
You may feel sad, angry or scared and these feelings are normal. As best you can, try to be kind and compassionate to yourself when you have these feelings.
The following steps may help you to manage your feelings and emotions.
Connect with the present moment
Stay with the present and be aware of your body, mind and the world around you.
Click on the links below to access guided to help you practice staying present.
Be open to your thoughts and feelings
Try to notice and identify the differing thoughts and feelings that you may be having.
You may notice that some are helpful and some are unhelpful. Dropping the struggle with your thoughts will help them to come and go.
These guided exercises will help you to practice opening up to your experience.
Notice an important value for you at the moment and take action
Is there one small thing that you could do that will connect you with something or someone who is important to you?
It could be contacting a friend, spending time with a pet, going for a walk or engaging in an activity that holds meaning and purpose for you.
Relaxation exercises
Relaxation exercises can help you to manage stress, reduce anxiety and improve overall wellbeing.
Abdominal breathing exercise
- Sit in a comfortable, relaxed position.
- Focus your attention on your breathing. Do not try to change your breathing for the moment. Become aware of how fast or slow you are breathing.
- Place one hand on your upper chest and one hand on your stomach just below your rib cage. Relax your shoulders and hands. As you breathe in, allow the stomach to rise, and as you breathe out, allow the stomach to flatten.
- Allow your breath to become regular.
- If any distractions, thoughts or worries come into your mind, allow them to come, then allow them to go, and bring your attention back to your breathing.
- When you are ready to end this exercise, take a few deeper breaths in and out.