October 20th, 2008
Living with cancer is hard. It challenges us in so many different ways – physically, emotionally, spiritually. It touches almost all aspects of our lives too, from work and leisure to connecting to family and friends.
What folks often times find challenging is talking “straight-up” with friends and family. People living with cancer and cancer survivors often feel like they have to be optimistic and put on a happy face for others. Being strong and optimistic takes work.
We don’t always want to be postive. Sometimes we need to be real. Sometimes we need to say that we’ve lost faith or hope – even for a moment. Perhaps you may want to talk about how your truly feeling. How you’re afraid to go through chemotherapy. That you fear dying and leaving your friends, family, children. You might even want to talk about the ways cancer has changed your outlook on life and what’s important.
Psychotherapy can help. I have personal experience with cancer and know what the experience can be like. As your therapist and counselor, I will always listen – without judgement – to your fears, thoughts, and concerns. Therapy should be a place where you don’t have to be “strong”. It should be a place where you can be yourself – no matter what you are thinking and feeling.