PRACTISE SELF-CARE Mental health, self-care and social support by Madina Tabesh.

Practise Self-Care

Putting yourself first is essential to your well-being and recovery. Madina Tabesh

Everyone who has dealt with cancer — whether it’s you or a loved one — should recognize the importance of mental health. Why does it matter so much? For Louise Bell, cancer survivor and Master of Psychology Student at the University of New Brunswick, support from loved ones, taking time for herself, and being in a good mental health space were essential in dealing with her cancer diagnosis.

Taking care of your mental health is a critical aspect of any cancer journey. Too often when medical treatments become our central focus, mental health becomes an ‘underrecognized’ need. We can forget that mental wellness plays a key role in improving our physical health. Louise expresses it perfectly: “If we are mentally well, then we have the capacity in ourselves to help work on our physical wellness. However, if we are not mentally well, we may not have the energy or capacity to push ourselves to do better physically.”

So, how do we take care of our mental health? Self-care is the art of practising good health habits for ourselves. It looks different from person to person and no one formula will work for everyone.

Self-care gives you more opportunities to try and discover different options to see what works best for you. Maybe you find refuge in reading a good book. Or going for a walk. Or even binging a reality TV show that draws you in.

"Social support is one of the most important factors to navigating a cancer journey.”

Do you enjoy catching up with friends? Perhaps you feel more like yourself when talking to people going through a similar experience. Reaching out to others and joining support groups for people with cancer can give you a sense of community and help minimize the feelings of loneliness. Speaking on her own experience, Louise suggests, “social support is one of the most important factors to navigating your way through a cancer journey.”

Participating in supportive programs like Look Good Feel Better can have real, lasting benefits. One research study found that support programs can result in a significant reduction of depressive symptoms and an improvement in self-esteem for women going through cancer treatment. Self-care has beneficial effects on psychological outcomes in cancer treatment and the well-being of women undergoing treatment.

Taking care of your mental health and practicing self-care can look like laying in bed for the day after treatment or phoning a friend and laughing until your belly hurts. You are not alone. Seeking the support you need from your family, friends, or care team is often the first step towards feeling more like ‘you’.

SELF-CARE CHECKLIST

Try our Self-Care checklist to help you manage your stress and nourish your mind, body and spirit:

 Walk in the park  Prioritize sleep  Join a support group  Call a friend  Meditate  Try aromatherapy  Start a Journal  Listen to a podcast  Do yoga online  Enjoy a luxurious bath  Say ‘No’ when you need to!