I’ve “beaten” cancer, so why am I so sad?
Image Source: s3.images.com
As regular readers know the theme of mental health is one close to my heart and it is one I return to again and again. As cancer survivors, many of us have struggled with that unexpected feeling of depression and loneliness that surprises us after treatment is finished. I say unexpected and surprises, because for many of us we are quite often shocked and confused at the intensity of the feelings of depression that hit us. Surely we should be ecstatic – after all we have “beaten” cancer, we have been given a second chance. So why then do we feel so sad? The fact is that cancer survivors are more likely than their healthy peers to suffer psychological distress such as anxiety and depression, even a decade after treatment ends. The physical and emotional fallout of cancer treatment can contribute to feelings of anxiety and depression.
A writer I admire hugely for shining a clear light on the nature of depression and offering practical steps for dealing with it, is Therese Borchard. I have interviewed her previously here and received an overwhelming response to her posts. Yesterday on her Beyond Blue blog, Therese turned her attention to the subject of cancer and depression, in response to a question from one of her readers “What do you do when you are afflicted by BOTH cancer and depression? Your twelve steps work great for healthy people. But what do you do when you’re sick while trying not to plunge into a deeper depression?”
As always Therese had excellent advice, which you can read here
Related Posts:
Jerry Remy talks of his depression after cancer
Link between cancer and depression
Breast cancer intervention reduces depression
The loneliness of the long-distance cancer survivor
*hugs*
I guess there must a a sense of guilt too that comes with depression after surviving cancer – you have survived, you might feel you should feel happy and celebratory and lucky to be alive and if you are depressed, you might not be living life to the full, which you may have promised yourself you would – if you survived cancer.
Double-edge sword I’d imagine.
*double hugs*
LikeLike
Thanks for the comment and the support Lorna – you know how much I appreciate it I hope 🙂
LikeLike
By the way, I don’t pride myself on being a psychologist and there is no way that I would ever claim that I know what it feels like to survive cancer but what I wrote above was meant to be comforting rather than patronising and I hope it comes across as such xxxxx
Lorna
LikeLike
I can’t say this is something I’ve ever really considered. I suppose a lot of people, and perhaps that includes people dealing with cancer, are just so focused on the ‘battle’ and don’t think about the aftermath.
I’m really glad you posted this and made me more aware and more capable of providing the right kind of support at the right time.
Thanks.
LikeLike
Thanks Darcy for taking the time to comment and be so open here.
LikeLike
Looks like we commented at the same time 🙂
LikeLike
Debbie left such a great comment on the JBBC facebook page, I just had to share it here:
“Great article, thanks for sharing. I think people can get blindsided by the intensity of the depression after treatment and may let it go on longer than is healthy or may think they don’t want to bother their oncologist with it, it isn’t their field, or may think they can deal with it on their own, or are so surprised by it that it can get quite a hold on you before you realize how bad it is, etc…But it is so important to get help.”
Thank you Debbie – terrific points here!
LikeLike
Thanks Marie, I think all of the things I mentioned happened to me or went through my mind during my first post-treatment depression, so I speak from experience!
LikeLike
I am going to put my professional hat on here for a minute Marie and friends. I hope this information is useful to you.
From a bio-chemical perspective, any emotional and/or physical battle is accompanied by an upsurge in adrenalin. When the battle is done, the sudden drop in adrenalin, can lead to depression.
Adrenal exhaustion can also lead to depression.
For some people, the battle leaves them with Post Traumatic Stress (PTSD). The most important thing for all of us to know is that the person with PTSD can be “restimulated” by smells, sounds, events or sensations. It is really important to get good help as soon as possible. if the first person you approach is unkind or cold, keep looking until you find someone you feel safe with.
LikeLike
Martine, thank you so much for taking the time to offer us some terrific advice. I agree with the PTS aspect of post cancer treatment.
LikeLike
Thanks for opening up this discussion – as you say we need to shed some light on it and not suffer in silence. Some great advice here from everyone. I have to say your comments have brought me a lot of hope and comfort everyone.
LikeLike
Pingback: Weekly Round-Up « Journeying Beyond Breast Cancer
Pingback: Has my cancer really gone? Dealing with the fear of recurrence « Journeying Beyond Breast Cancer
Pingback: Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge Day 27 #HAWMC « Journeying Beyond Breast Cancer