Types Of Psychotherapy That Can Benefit Cancer Patients

If you have been diagnosed with cancer, you are probably seeing many professionals. It is likely that you have an oncologist and possible a surgeon as well as nutrition experts, general care doctors and chemotherapy providers. You might not want to add another appointment to your list of cancer treatments, but you should take time to consider getting psychotherapy to help you cope with your diagnosis and treatment. Here are some types of psychotherapy you can pursue and reasons why they may be helpful to you. 

Psychiatrist

It is not unusual for patients diagnosed with cancer to find themselves feeling particularly anxious about the future or depressed about your lack of mobility and energy. If you are experiencing these feelings, you should know that this can be treated. Make an appointment to talk to a psychiatrist about your problems and ways to solve them. 

A psychiatrist may prescribe a medication to relieve your anxiety or ease your depression. If you having panic attacks as a result of your treatment, a psychiatrist can offer help for that as well. 

You don't have to suffer with anxiety and depression as well as with cancer. You can find help for these issues. 

Counseling

Everyone needs someone to talk to, and going through cancer treatments is a stressful situation that can be very difficult to handle on your own. You may not want to talk to close friends and family members about your fears and pain because you don't want to cause them more stress than necessary. In these times, it can be helpful to talk to a professional about what you are thinking and feeling. You can be completely honest and not have to worry about putting on a positive face or holding back your ugliest feelings. 

A professional counselor or psychologist can help put you in touch with the emotions that are causing you the most stress and can give you constructive ways to deal with them. 

The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center reported on a study of the benefits of a type of counseling for people in the late stages of cancer. This therapy focuses on finding a meaning and a purpose in life as well as concentrating on feelings of peace and acceptance. This approach was shown to increase patients' quality of life and help them with spiritual well-being. Patients in the study also said that they experienced less pain. 

Support Group

Sometimes it seems that as much as your friends and family love you, they cannot possibly understand all that you are experiencing as a person in treatment for cancer. When you join a support group, you will find a community of people who do understand your situation because they are going through it themselves. 

Many patients find that talking to people in the same situation is helpful in getting control over their emotions and feelings. They also find that they can encourage each other and inspire strength in each other during a very difficult time. 

Ask your doctor about finding a support group that is local to you. If you cannot or do not want to leave your home, you can also join support groups through the internet. 

Dealing with a diagnosis of cancer can be complicated and confusing. Loved ones may want to help but are simply not able to understand your circumstances. You may also want to talk to someone who is not intimately connected with your situation. In these cases, psychotherapy in the form of medication, counseling and support groups can be tremendously helpful in gathering your thoughts and coping during a stressful season of life. 

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