Cancer patients and also cancer caregivers report experiencing emotions and mental states with many highs and lows, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and post-traumatic growth (PTG). Emotional extremes related to the cancer experience are not uncommon. Patience is paramount. Explore different strategies to identify what helps you the most. If you feel stuck with challenges, try something new. Do not be afraid to ask for help.
What is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a term for an anxiety disorder that may result from severe trauma. The diagnosis of a life-threatening illness can be traumatic. Symptoms of PTSD include fear, helplessness, horror, re-experiencing the event, avoiding reminders associated with the event, and increased stressful responses for at least one month. Studies suggest that some cancer survivors and their loved ones experience PTSD. Although uncomfortable and disturbing, it may be helpful to know that these feelings occur in some people affected by cancer. By identifying the experience, and tending to specific needs, individuals cope better. If you think that you might have PTSD, you may also consider talking to a mental health professional for assistance.
The National Academies Institute of Medicine authored Cancer Care for the Whole Patient: Meeting Psychosocial Health Needs which described some information.
“Physically, cancer and cancer treatments are tremendously challenging, often requiring a combination of debilitating treatments that can continue for months or years. But effects on mental health are also common, with depression and anxiety disorders frequently reported. In fact, recent studies have shown that cancer patients and the parents of young children with cancer sometimes meet the textbook criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These mental states can cause harmful health effects of their own, compounding the challenges of treatment and disease in a damaging, downward spiral. Patients suffering from depression, anxiety, or excessive stress can have difficulty remembering things, concentrating, and making decisions. These mental health problems can also decrease patients’ motivation to complete treatment, change unhealthy practices such as smoking, and decrease their ability to cope with the demands of a rigorous treatment process. There is growing evidence that stress can directly interfere with the working of the body’s immune system and other functions.”
Studies have linked psychological distress such as ongoing depression and related anxiety symptoms with a higher risk of cancer incidence and poorer survival1. With helpful strategies, the pain can be transformed into improved mindsets and other benefits.
What is post-traumatic growth (PTG)?
Post-traumatic growth (PTG) is a term for the positive life changes that may come from trauma and an opposite extreme of PTSD. For some cancer patients and caregivers, the experience inspires them to question their beliefs, attitudes, life goals, and relationships. Cancer can serve as a powerful catalyst and change agent. A re-evaluation process, which can at first be traumatic, may ultimately create healthy changes2-7. Studies suggest that some cancer survivors and their loved ones who endure trauma grow from their ordeal. Specific areas of PTG include an appreciation of life, personal strength, spiritual change, and improved ability in relating to others.
How might suffering and wounding be transformed into strength and healing?
“The healing of our present woundedness may lie in recognizing and reclaiming the capacity we have to heal each other, the enormous power in the simplest of human relationships: the strength of a touch, the blessing of forgiveness, the grace of someone else taking you just as you are and finding in you an unsuspected goodness. Everyone alive has suffered. It is the wisdom gained from our wounds and from our own experiences of suffering that makes us able to heal. Becoming an expert has turned out to be less important than remembering and trusting the wholeness in me and everyone else. Expertise cures, but wounded people can best be healed by other wounded people. Only other wounded people can understand what is needed, for the healing of suffering is compassion, not expertise.”
– Rachel Naomi Remen, MD
How might extreme life challenges impact individuals as well as societies?
The reality that individuals can change themselves and impact societies is quite remarkable. Transformation can occur in many ways as people explore their meaning with strategies to expand higher and brighter.
“Throughout history humans striving to transform adversity into strength consistently possess a sense of moral commitment, a sense that personal and group trauma must be converted into a community asset, not just a personal asset or catastrophe. From such traumatic origins springs the co-construction or reconstruction of civilization.”
– Sandra L. Bloom, MD, Posttraumatic Growth: Positive Changes in the Aftermath of Crisis
What support is available for PTSD and/or PTG?
Many resources, tools, and techniques to deal with PTSD and engage PTG are available throughout this site, especially in other articles throughout the Body, Mind, Spirit, Social, Environmental, and other sections. You can also learn more with various forms of support from a Cancer Coach.
