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Struggling with the emotional side of cancer? A cancer diagnosis can turn your whole life upside down, so it’s not surprising that it can have a huge impact on your mental health.
When going through something as big as cancer, it’s normal to have ups and downs. To start with, you might feel really sad or hopeless for a few weeks, but as you get your head around your diagnosis and you’re given a treatment plan, things can start to feel more manageable.
Although spells of sadness are to be expected (you’re going through something exceptionally difficult) if you find that your mood doesn’t lift at all, this might be a sign that you’re experiencing depression. Depression during and after cancer is very common, but there are things you can do to support yourself.
Is it a low mood or depression?
Low moods and depression have symptoms that cross over, like feeling sad, irritable, anxious and more tired than usual. However, low moods tend to come and go after a few days or weeks, whereas depression involves persistent feelings of sadness that you can’t shake off, plus the following symptoms:
What can cause feelings of depression?
So many parts of cancer can be difficult to deal with, and your mood might be low for lots of reasons. You might struggle with:
Going through cancer is traumatic and some people develop post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of their experience. We’ve written more about PTSD here.
Dan, an ieso therapist says…
As a CBT Therapist we frequently observe the profound and often complex interplay between a cancer diagnosis and a person's mental well-being. It's entirely understandable for individuals facing cancer to experience symptoms of depression, as this challenging journey can bring immense emotional strain, including fear, grief, uncertainty, and changes to daily life. Our role in CBT is to help individuals navigate these difficult emotions by identifying unhelpful thought patterns and developing practical coping strategies, ultimately supporting them in managing their mental health alongside their physical treatment.”
How to support yourself
Being diagnosed with cancer is a major thing, and it’s completely normal to go through a rollercoaster of emotions. You might feel shocked, scared, angry, upset or numb - and this can vary from minute to minute, hour to hour or day to day. There’s no right or wrong way to feel and it’s okay if it takes some time for you to process what’s happened.
Living with cancer can trigger mental health issues (including depression) and it can make existing mental health issues worse. If you’re struggling with your mental health after being diagnosed with cancer, you’re not alone, and you don’t have to just push through - there are things that can help.
It’s a good idea to speak to your doctor about treatment options, sooner rather than later, because the longer you leave a mental health condition, the worse it can become. They might suggest medication, talking therapy or a mix of both.
At ieso, we offer cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that can help you to manage the difficult thoughts that come with depression. Our service is online and flexible with appointments that fit around you, so you can get help from the comfort of your home, which can be really useful on your down days. Self-refer and get started here.
It can be lonely and isolating when you feel like no one quite understands what you’re going through. If the people around you haven’t been through cancer, they might struggle to relate to how you’re feeling, no matter how hard they try.
Joining a support group or connecting with others who are going through a similar thing to you can help you to feel more understood and less alone. Macmillan and Cancer Research both have directories where you can find different online and in-person groups that might be right for you.
Cancer is hard enough to deal with without experiencing depression too, so it’s extra important that you’re kind to yourself. This means talking to yourself like you’d talk to a friend (gently, with patience and understanding), allowing yourself to have off days without feeling guilty about them, and making sure that you take care of yourself.
Go for walks, spend time in nature and get fresh air daily, stay in touch with your loved ones, get plenty of sleep and eat healthily. These things might sound simple, but they really do help.
Don’t be afraid to tell your friends and family how you’re feeling - it’s okay if you’re struggling. Talking to someone you trust can make a big difference to your mood; there’s a good feeling that comes from getting something out in the open. It also gives the people in your life a heads up that you need to be supported, so they know to look out for you.
Helpful resources to know:
Talking therapies, such as counseling and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), can be highly beneficial for people experiencing mental health challenges related to cancer. At ieso, we offer typed cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for a range of mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression. Patients can speak to a therapist online by typing back and forward, or we can offer video calls in some locations. Our service is non-judgmental and accepting of everyone. Find out more about what we do.
Mental health affects us all. This means it's essential that mental health services are equally available to everyone, everywhere. This World Mental Health Day, 10th October, we explore the right to access care.
This week is National Work Life Week, a campaign led by the charity, Working Families, to get people talking about wellbeing at work and work-life balance.
Have you noticed a change in a friend or family member’s behaviour or mindset? Maybe they’re isolating themselves, worrying more than usual or acting erratically. Here are some tips on how you can support them.