Getting a cancer diagnosis is never easy. Whether you or someone you love has recently been diagnosed with cancer, it’s likely that you’re feeling anxious. If this is the case, you certainly aren’t alone.
The good news is that there are therapists who specialize in grief and trauma therapy who can help you to get past the symptoms of anxiety you’re likely experiencing so you can concentrate on your recovery from cancer. If you or a family member has been diagnosed with cancer and your anxiety is high, read on for ways to get help.
Talking to Health Care Providers and Pharmacists
One of the best ways to find the right therapist for any mental health condition is to talk to the people you know and trust the most. For many people, their doctors and pharmacists are people they’ve known for years who they feel comfortable opening up to. Perhaps your spouse went to their doctor or pharmacist to learn more about a Ranitidine lawsuit a few months ago.
In the same way, their doctor was able to help, now might be a good time to open up a conversation about the different types of therapy with your own doctor. In short, doctors are for more than diagnostic exams. In being willing to talk about your severe anxiety and asking for help, you’ll put yourself in the position of a referral you can trust.
Searching for a Therapist Online
If you aren’t comfortable talking with your healthcare provider about finding a clinician who can help with the anxiety you’re experiencing, it could be a good idea to head to the internet to find a good mental health provider or support group. The great news is that it’s easier than you might think to get help for any type of anxiety disorder.
Opening Up to Your Support System
You may be surprised to learn just how many people see therapists at some point in their lives. Odds are, people you know have experienced some form of therapy or another and will be able to help you with referrals. Consider asking your friends and family about whom they’ve gone to for therapy and whether they were experiencing specific symptoms. It may even help your feelings of anxiety to simply open up about what you’re experiencing and to know that you aren’t alone.
It’s normal to feel anxiety after receiving a serious diagnosis. Reaching out to friends and family and even asking them to go to counseling with you is a great first step. In the same way, you would want to be there for them during any mental health problem, they’ll likely be receptive to supporting you as well. Consider asking your family to attend family therapy with you if you think that would help reduce your anxiety levels about the first few sessions and more.
At the end of the day, getting help for your anxiety disorder through any type of psychotherapy will give you tools to help manage anxiety symptoms so that you can focus on your recovery from cancer.
Talking to a social worker, or your doctor, and ultimately attending therapy sessions with a licensed therapist able to do cognitive therapy or behavior therapy will be a great first step in improving your everyday life as you work to adjust to your cancer diagnosis.
Best of luck to you with your cancer and the anxiety that comes with it. May your recovery mean an amazing quality of life.
