Feeling Anxious After a Mesothelioma Diagnosis? Here’s How to Find Relief

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Anxiety can be a challenging aspect for mesothelioma patients, but learning how to cope with it can lead to improved emotional well-being. Depending on the type, gender, and age, mesothelioma survival rates may vary greatly among patients. Learning to keep anxiety under control is vital, especially since it weakens the immune system further and can decrease your quality of life. As such, it’s important to be proactive and look for ways to overcome anxiety. Thankfully, a number of options are available. From fidget rings and worry stones to online therapy and more, let’s explore the various ways you can reduce your anxiety while navigating a mesothelioma diagnosis.

1. Therapy and Support Groups

Therapy and participating in support groups are lifesavers for those mesothelioma patients who have been struggling with anxiety. Therapy empowers you to go through all those strong feelings. Anxiety hits you like a tight knot of fear, but therapists help you open that knot a little at a time.

Support groups, too, offer something unique. They’re safe spaces where patients meet others who understand their journey firsthand. Sharing experiences can reduce feelings of isolation – like suddenly realizing you’re not navigating rough waters alone. Support groups such as the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation and CancerCare offer specific mesothelioma support. These aren’t just random gatherings; they focus on the unique challenges mesothelioma patients face.

Choosing the right support group matters. Some groups provide emotional support while others offer more practical advice on treatment options. The best group, whether online or in-person, would feel like a second home where you can freely express your fears and hopes.

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2. Mindfulness and Meditation

Scientifically speaking, mindfulness has been proven to reduce anxiety levels as much as medication and places patients in control of their emotions. For those battling anxiety with mesothelioma, mindfulness and meditation can help make things more manageable. Amidst the chaos of doctor’s appointments, treatments, and fear of what’s next, these practices bring some peace.

Meditation allows patients to feel more grounded and stop those waves of fear that never seem to end. Some of the most common techniques include body scanning, deep breathing, and guided visualization. While deep breathing helps by slowing down the heart rate and creating a feeling of relaxation, body scanning helps people pay attention to every part of their body, letting go of tension they didn’t even know existed. Guided visualization lets the patients relax and envision themselves in serene places, giving them a short but vital break from all the craziness.

For people with mesothelioma, meditation may be a safe haven. Meditation doesn’t make the disease go away, but it changes how you deal with it. Instead of getting all caught up in anxiety, meditation helps you look at your thoughts without being hard on yourself – kind of like watching clouds drift by. This change in how you see things can really help, letting you enjoy life more in the here and now.

3. Using Fidget Rings During Doctor’s Appointments

Doctor’s appointments can be especially stressful after a mesothelioma diagnosis, but fidget rings can offer a discreet way to manage anxiety in those high-pressure moments. These rings, also known as worry rings or anxiety rings, feature a spinning component that helps keep your hands busy, offering a calming and repetitive motion that can ease anxious thoughts.

By focusing on the gentle movement of the ring, you can channel nervous energy and find a sense of control during stressful appointments. This small, portable fidget toy can serve as a comforting companion, helping to keep anxiety at bay while waiting for results or speaking with your medical team.

Fidget rings are an easy, subtle, and effective way to practice mindfulness and stay grounded when anxiety begins to rise during doctor’s visits.

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4. Limit Information Overload

If you’re dealing with mesothelioma, it’s super important to keep info overload in check. Getting hit with too much info, especially about your condition, is like trying to drink from a fire hose – totally overwhelming. Medical talk, mixed messages, and scary stats can just make your anxiety worse.

That’s why it’s key to watch what and how much information you take in. Do not obsess over the worst cases. Reading about every possible side effect or complication from treatment can be enough to feed and magnify fear. Instead, you need to rely on trusted sources from medical professionals or other respected health organizations such as the American Cancer Society.

Setting boundaries is crucial in limiting information overload. The patient can choose when and how often to check up on updates about their condition. For example, instead of consuming all the new information throughout the day, they can set a certain time to go through them. Part of the research can be delegated to a loved one or caregiver who will keep the patient from getting overburdened.

Controlled consumption of information allows patients to feel grounded. Anxiety thrives on uncertainty, and overconsumption of information feeds that uncertainty. Therefore, limited exposure to disturbing content enables patients to manage their treatment and well-being without being buried under unnecessary fear.

5. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

While the mean recovery rate for CBT is 59%, it continues to be an important strategy in the fight against anxiety. This structured approach focuses mainly on fine-tuning the connection between feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. 

For people undergoing CBT when diagnosed with mesothelioma, it’s really about identifying the cause of the anxiety; it could be fear of pain, fear of the unknown, or an overwhelming feeling of how things are changing so quickly. A therapist intervenes, breaking down those thought patterns and turning them around to be more rational and realistic. It’s as if one received a better chart to navigate choppy waters.

6. Maintain a Balanced Diet

An optimally planned diet for mesothelioma patients will provide nourishment supporting them before, during, and even after treatment. Proper nutrition ensures and protects a healthy weight, muscle, and immune strength. High–protein and high-calorie foods such as eggs, peanut butter, and tofu would help combat weight loss; nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables, including strawberries, yams, and squash, offer vitamins and minerals, enhancing overall health benefits.

Many treatments come with side effects that can be managed through dietary changes. Chemotherapy, for instance, triggers nausea, mouth ulcers, and lack of appetite, at least temporarily, making it difficult to consume enough nutrition. Simply swapping harder foods for softer ones will help prevent your sore throat from morphing into painful ulcers. 

Every patient’s diet is individualized to their needs. No one diet fits all mesothelioma patients; it’s modified based on the patient’s treatment and health status. For some people increasing protein and calories helps with weight gain, for others it’s about focusing on nutrient dense, minimally processed foods to support recovery. So a dietitian plays a huge role in this process by helping patients and caregivers create individualized meal plans.

7. Practicing Self-Care

Self care becomes even more crucial when dealing with the emotional and physical toll of a mesothelioma diagnosis. Taking time to nurture yourself can help reduce anxiety and improve overall well-being during challenging times. Self care isn’t just about pampering; it’s about making space to rest, recharge, and take care of your mental health.

Consider incorporating self care activities like mindfulness meditation, deep breathing exercises, or gentle yoga to help calm your mind and body. Journaling can be a powerful way to express emotions, track progress, and reflect on your feelings. Creating a soothing environment at home with soft lighting, calming scents, and comfortable spaces for relaxation can also make a big difference.

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Final Thoughts

You’re likely going to be anxious about something as serious as mesothelioma. However, it’s important to remember that you have options, usually based on the stage and type of mesothelioma you have. Use the right strategies to manage your anxiety and diagnosis, and remind yourself that it’s going to be okay.