SHARE Presentation: Coping With Cancer: If Cancer is a Gift, What's the Return Policy?
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The document discusses various coping strategies and perspectives on dealing with cancer, emphasizing that there is no universal approach; it highlights practicality and individual preferences. It explores the positive outcomes of cancer experiences, such as greater appreciation for relationships and personal growth, while also underlining the importance of mindfulness and finding meaning in life. Additionally, it includes recommended resources and media that can provide support and comfort during such challenging times.
SHARE Presentation: Coping With Cancer: If Cancer is a Gift, What's the Return Policy?
- 1. Coping with Cancer: If Cancer is a Gift, What’s the Return Policy? Mindy Greenstein, Ph.D. (and what does it mean to have a good attitude, anyway?)
- 2. Coping There is no one-size fits all model for coping with cancer!
- 3. It’s all about pragmatics What makes you feel better? What makes you feel worse?
- 4. Jewish Telegram “Start worrying. Details to follow.”
- 5. Positives of my Cancer • New appreciation of the people in my life • Psycho-oncology education • Prodded me to write and publish • Made me less fearful of non-health related issues • Body improvement
- 6. Don’t Forget the Simple Stuff! – Good friends to listen or distract – Good conversation – People you trust who’ve been there and done that (unless you’d prefer not to know too much) – Relaxation breathing – Exercise – Books, movies, theatre, museums — whatever art forms appeal to you most – Doing things that are fun – Doing things that give you a sense of purpose
- 7. Different Coping Styles • Realism vs. Denial of bad outcomes • Power of Positive Thinking • Defensive Pessimism • Humor
- 9. Mindfulness
- 10. Mindfulness with a Hershey’s kiss
- 11. Meaning He who has a why to live for can bear with almost any how. -Friedrich Nietzsche (quoted in Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning)
- 12. Meaning • Feeling connected to the world • Feeling like part of a larger whole • Responsible to that world • Goals and tasks to fulfill • Can bring a sense of fulfillment and peace
- 13. Routes to Meaning • Work • Causes you believe in and advocate for • Creative pursuits • Beauty • Relationships • How we deal with suffering that’s unavoidable
- 14. Meaning • Moments when life has felt particularly meaningful – something that helped get you through a difficult day, – or a time when you felt most alive. • Is there a pattern to what experiences have been most meaningful? • Are they still meaningful?
- 15. ChemoWorthy Television COMEDY Arrested Development Blackadder Series (especially 2 and 3) The IT Crowd Freaks and Geeks Jane the Virgin Brooklyn Nine Nine Mozart in the Jungle (Amazon Prime instant video) The Office (both British and American versions) Weeds Nurse Jackie 30 Rock Dr. Horrible's Singalong Blog Coupling (British version) The Larry Sanders Show Louie DRAMA Orphan Black Justified Borgen (Danish) Spiral (French) Deadwood Homeland Srugim (Israeli) Enlightened The Top of the Lake True Detective Downton Abbey Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009) The Sopranos Firefly Prime Suspect 1 - 7 (British) Homicide: Life on the Streets Friday Night Lights
- 16. Meaning “I am a _________.”
- 17. Meaning I am a: Writer Wife/Mother Psychologist “Tough chick” from Brooklyn Good shot
- 18. Integrating Past, Present, and Future Goals Mindfulness Meaning Helping Others
- 19. Some Resources Relaxation The Relaxation Response by Herbert Benson, M.D. Morrow, 1975/2000 www.relaxationresponse.org
- 20. Some Resources Mindfulness The Miracle of Mindfulness, by Thich Nhat Hanh, Translated by Mobi Ho (Beacon, 1999) Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness by Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D. (Delta, 1990) Guided Mindfulness Meditation, audio cd by Jon Kabat-Zinn. Smartphone apps for relaxation and mindfulness training.
- 21. Some Resources Psychotherapy Referrals American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS) toll-free helpline: 1-866-276-7443 (1-866-APOS-4-HELP)