By Elizabeth J. Clark, PhD, ACSW, MPH
Millions of women are the primary caregivers for their families. In addition, they might also be caring for their aging parents. Unfortunately, when many of these women develop a serious illness such as cancer they may slight their own treatment because of their caregiving responsibilities.
Here are some suggestions to help women focus on taking good care of themselves and surviving a cancer crisis.
Coping Strategies
Take responsibility for your emotional health as well as your physical health. Care about yourself as much as you care about others. Put yourself at the very center of your circle of care.
- Be kind to yourself. Do things that make you feel happy and good and give yourself time to health both physically and emotionally.
- Acknowledge your fear. Fear is a basic emotion. It is real and it is normal. It’s also manageable.
- Chose hope. Remember that a hopeless person is a helpless person.
- Inform yourself. Get accurate information about your disease and treatment, and insist on excellent care. Ask questions if you don’t understand something. Get second opinions, and tell your physician or other health care professionals if you don’t like the way something has been managed. You would do this for other family members – so do it for yourself!
- Lower your own performance standards. Remember that “good is usually good enough.” You don’t have to be a perfect mother, partners employee or friend.
- Build a good support system. Few can actually understand the emotional trauma of a cancer diagnosis. That’s why self help and support programs are so valuable.
- Find the opportunity. Remember that every crisis contains the seeds of opportunity. These hidden opportunities can help you grow beyond the crisis.
There are thousands of highly trained social workers with specialized training in cancer available to help people dealing with cancer.
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