Introduction to emotional wellbeing
In the below video, clinical psychologist Graham Dyson explains how a cancer diagnosis can impact on your emotional wellbeing and the support available as part of prehabilitation.
Talking
Talking about your diagnosis can be comforting and can help you feel less anxious and more in control.
The South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust website includes information about psychology and therapy in cancer services and local or national support options that are available to support cancer patients’ and their carers’ psychological wellbeing.
Macmillan Cancer Support
Macmillan is there to help everyone with cancer live life as fully as they can. Whether you need help paying bills, advice on benefits or treatment, or just want to chat, Macmillan is there for you.
Macmillan Information Centre has information regarding Macmillan services in Middlesbrough and Northallerton, and there is a weekly Just Talk drop-in at the Chaplaincy Meeting Room (near North Entrance) at James Cook Hospital, on Fridays between 11am to 1pm.
Maggies
If you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with cancer, Maggie’s can help. The Maggies centre in Middlesbrough is a space for being together or for a moment alone, for getting going again or for meeting people who just get it.
All their cancer support specialists have expert knowledge about cancer and treatment, and many are NHS-trained.
Open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. You don’t need an appointment, just drop in.
For more information, visit maggies.org, email [email protected] or contact your cancer prehab or cancer care team.
Social support and connection
Spending quality time with friends or family, talking to someone about how we are feeling or finding ways to help other people can all help stop you from feeling lonely and support your mental health and wellbeing.
Coping
There are many unpleasant thoughts and feelings that a cancer diagnosis and living with cancer can trigger.
You may feel sad, angry or scared and these feelings are normal. As best you can, try to be kind and compassionate to yourself when you have these feelings.
The following steps may help you to manage your feelings and emotions.
Relaxation exercises
Relaxation exercises can help you to manage stress, reduce anxiety and improve overall wellbeing.
Abdominal breathing exercise
- Sit in a comfortable, relaxed position.
- Focus your attention on your breathing. Do not try to change your breathing for the moment. Become aware of how fast or slow you are breathing.
- Place one hand on your upper chest and one hand on your stomach just below your rib cage. Relax your shoulders and hands. As you breathe in, allow the stomach to rise, and as you breathe out, allow the stomach to flatten.
- Allow your breath to become regular.
- If any distractions, thoughts or worries come into your mind, allow them to come, then allow them to go, and bring your attention back to your breathing.
- When you are ready to end this exercise, take a few deeper breaths in and out.
These guided exercises will help you to practice relaxation.
My Wellbeing Space
My Wellbeing Space is an online resource designed by patients and carers for patients and carers, developed to help you before, during and after cancer treatment by providing good quality information and support, whenever you need it.
This digital course by My Wellbeing Space covers the main components of prehabilitation, which are physical activity, nutrition and emotional wellbeing.
The six sessions don’t need to be viewed in a particular order however, it is suggested you watch session 4 after completing session 1, as both focus on physical activity.