When was the last time you felt IN AWE or WONDER of something? Might a trip abroad, the birth of your child or hiking a national forest been the source?

There’s something about these experiences that are so moving and touching creating a strong emotional response, such as joy or perhaps the physical tingling of goosebumps, or the welling of tears; these events help us to see ourselves as part of the larger picture of the world we live in.

Whilst lost in the rat race of day-to-day life, it can be…

"Fear of the unknown" is a big one for most of us humans, whether it be your future, your health, the pandemic we are currently living or a cancer diagnosis; Fear has the capacity to disarm us and leave us with a feeling of being immobilized.

Good news, you CAN change your relationship with fear, so it no longer controls you.

Cancer can bring along with it the four-letter word-F-E-A-R; a very common reaction and response to a diagnosis. Fear of the unknown, fear of pain and suffering, fear of…

Caregiving and the Importance of Your Own Self Care

Caregiving can be an emotional roller coaster. On the one hand, caring for your family member demonstrates love and commitment and can be a very rewarding and personal experience. On the other hand, exhaustion, worry, inadequate resources, and continuous care demands are enormously stressful. Caregivers are more likely to experience chronic illness than are non-caregivers, namely high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and a tendency to be…

Cancer and Trauma

Trauma is defined as an emotional response to any difficult life event, examples include exposure to threatened death or actual death, and can result in shock and denial in the short-term. Other emotional responses to cancer and trauma that you could experience include emotional distress, depression, anger, distorted thought patterns, relationship conflict, and physical symptoms in the long-term.

A cancer diagnosis and treatment can constitute a trauma for most people. Knowing…

Cancer and its Effect on Mood

Just as cancer affects your physical health, it can bring up a wide range of feelings you are not used to dealing with and impacts your mood and mental well-being. It can also make existing feelings seem more intense. They may change daily, hourly, or even minute to minute. This is true whether you are currently in treatment, done with treatment, or a friend or family member. These feelings are all normal.

1. Often the values you grew up with affect how you…

Depression and Cancer

(Mental Health Series)

Feelings of depression are common when patients and family members are coping with cancer. It is normal to feel sadness and grief. Dreams, plans, and the future may seem uncertain. But if a person has been sad for a long time or is having trouble carrying out day-to-day activities, there may be reason to be concerned.

Depression can be mild and temporary with periods of sadness but can also be more severe and lasting. The more severe type is often…

Anxiety and Cancer

Anxiety What Does It Mean?

Anxiety means feeling uncomfortable, worried, or scared about a real or possible situation. It is important to recognize anxiety and take steps to manage it or prevent it from getting worse.

General Anxiety

In general, anxiety is a common problem for patients with a cancer diagnosis. At different times during treatment and recovery, cancer patients and their family and caregivers may feel fearful and anxious. 

By simply finding a lump, other…

When you first began your cancer treatment, you could not wait for the day you would finish. Now that you have completed your treatment, you are not sure if you're ready for life after treatment as a cancer survivor.

With your treatment now completed, you may see your cancer care team less often. Though you, your friends and your family are all eager to return to a more normal life, it can be scary to leave the protective cocoon of doctors and nurses who have supported you through treatment.

Spring Cleaning for Our Mental and Emotional Wellness

This time of year, as the season turns from winter to spring, it is natural for the ‘spring cleaning’ to begin—the full clear out and freshening up of our homes. Decisions are made over what to keep and what to get rid of. And corners left untouched for months finally get that attention.

And in many traditions, like Ayurveda, the seasonal shifts are a critical time to tune in to your mental and physical health. With any change comes a natural…