A cancer diagnosis is challenging, and stressful. Not only do the treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation span over many months, the treatment itself needs to be managed. Dealing the side effects of these complex treatment regimens is emotionally difficult.
Writing can really help. For instance, keeping a journal or writing a dairy can be an effective tool that can help to restore the feeling of being back in control and the toughest emotions can have an outlet. Like other forms of creative therapy such as drawing, or music, writing can help process the force of many of these complex emotions.
A great advantage of writing is that it is inexpensive and easy to start. One can begin with writing just a few lines every day, keeping a notebook, making regular journal entries, or even just start by crafting a diary that can include notes, clips from newspapers or magazine and photographs.
Writing as a group, or alone can help cancer patients and their caregivers cope with anxiety related to chronic illness issues, and grief. For example:
- Writing can help to reconcile with the treatment outcomes and prognosis.
- Writing can be empowering, for example, logging the recovery process and keeping a Chemo dairy helps to be in control.
- Writing is known to affect the mind and mood. For example, by writing something and then reading it back can put an experience in perspective.
- It can mend a painful experience, helps to get over yourself.
- Creative forms of writing such as writing stories or poetry therapeutically gives the safety to explore emotional aspects of the side effects of the treatment, including the fear of dying of cancer which can be difficult to speak about directly.
- A nature log or dairy can be a way of connecting with nature as a part of the healing process.
- Maintaining a journal or keeping a diary is a way of recording an experience that is empowering.
- Writing as method allows us to analyse, find meaning in the experiences on the way to recovery and long-term wellness.
Please get in touch and write to us if you would like to know more or join a writing group.
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