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Information for Patients and Caregivers
Anxiety
Definition:
Anxiety is a vague feeling
of apprehension, uneasiness or fear
resulting from the anticipation of some
fear or harm. Anxiety can happen to
anyone, but persons who have had surgery
or treatment may get anxious more easily
than others. Anxiety and fear are common
feelings that patients and families
occasionally have when coping with the
diagnosis or treatment of cancer.
How do people describe
anxiety?
Individuals who have anxiety
say they feel uneasy, apprehensive,
agitated, uncertain, and fearful or
a sense of dread or impending doom.
In addition, some people experience
shakiness, restlessness or difficulty
falling asleep. Some also have a persistent
sense of fear.
What happens to people
when they experience anxiety?
Anxiety can affect people
in a number of ways. Sometimes a person
may become overly anxious, fearful or
depressed and may no longer cope well
with his or her day-to-day life.
What causes anxiety?
Many different things
can cause people to feel anxious. Symptoms
that are not under control, such as
pain or nausea, can make a person feel
anxious or "sick to his/her stomach".
Loss of control or physical changes
from disease or treatment can also make
a person feel anxious.
How do people cope with
their anxiety?
No two people experience
anxiety in the same way. Here are some
tips people have found helpful when
they have anxiety:
- Increase pleasurable, distracting
activities such as listening to
favorite music.
- Try to identify what "triggers"
your anxiety.
- List coping strategies that have
helped in the past.
- Be around others as mush as possible,
if this is relaxing.
- Use relaxation techniques such
as controlled breathing or guided
imagery (picture a pleasant scene
in your mind).
- Talk with others, such as in a
support group, about your anxiety.
- Use prayer or other types of spiritual
support, such as meditation.
- Talk with your healthcare provider
about prescribing medicine to help
reduce your anxiety.
- Listen to comforting music or
relaxation tapes.
- Limit you caffeine intake by decreasing
your intake of coffee, colas, tea,
Mountain Dew and chocolate.
- Ask your doctor for a counseling
referral if these tips are not helpful.
What can family members
and friends do to help me with my anxiety?
- Have family members and friends
help you with relaxation exercises
such as deep breathing or visualizing
pleasant scenery.
- Ask family members or friends
to help you with situations or chores
that you've identified as stressful,
such as accompanying you to doctors’
appointments, writing out your bills,
assisting with household chores
(laundry, housecleaning, cooking
and yard work) or carpooling children
to activities.
- Ask family members to bring home
books from the library or bookstore
about teaching relaxation exercises
or imagery.
How can I talk with my
family members about my anxiety?
- Be open and honest about your
feelings with your family members.
- Try to describe your feelings
when you’re experiencing them (racing
thoughts, lump in your throat, nausea,
shortness of breath, dizzy or scared).
- Ask your family member what he/she
thinks is causing your anxiety.
- Ask you family members how your
anxiety is affecting them.
What should I report
to my doctor or nurse?
- Panic attacks
- Problems with depression
- Persistent fearfulness
- Shortness of breath
- Shakiness, agitation or restlessness
- Persistent problems sleeping or
getting to sleep
- Heart racing and beating hard
- No relief after trying suggestions
- Excessive sweating
- Persistent nausea or lump in throat
Where can I get more
information?
References:
-
Ting-Ting Kuo & Fung-Chi
Ma (2002). Symptom Distress and Coping
Strategies in Patients with Non-small
cell Lung Cancer. Cancer Nursing, 25(4):
309-317.
-
Rawl, SM, Given, BA, Given,
CW, Champion, VL, Kozachik, SL, Barton,
D, Emsley, CL & Williams, SD (2002).
Intervention to improve psychological
functioning for newly diagnosed patients
with cancer. Oncology Nursing Forum,
29(6): 967-75.
-
Sivesind, D. & Baile,
WF (2001). The Psychologic Distress in
Patients with Cancer. Nursing Clinics
of North America, 36(4): 809-25.
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