Earlier in this topic we discussed ways to deal with stress. It is normal to experience a range of emotions including, worry, sadness and stress when you are caring for someone with a brain tumour. However, when these emotions feel present a lot of the time or they regularly affect your life or your ability to care, it may be that depression and anxiety are making things a bit harder.
In this next section we will look at:
- Where you may find help if you are experiencing signs of carer strain, depression or anxiety
- Why it may be worth talking to a professional regarding these difficult emotions
- Signs of depression and signs of anxiety
There is a quiz online that can help you to work out if you have high levels of stress or depression or anxiety. You may have already completed the quiz while doing the section on reducing carer stress (Carer Strain – What is it?). If not, there is a link that takes you to the questions HERE (a new window will pop up).
Main Message
If you frequently feel overwhelmed or suspect you are experiencing difficult emotions you may choose to:
- Talk to your GP OR
- Phone Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14 OR
- Visit the Lifeline page HERE for more options OR
- Visit the Carer Gateway Mental Health and Wellbeing page here.
These services can help provide you with extra support, someone to talk with and very practical ways of feeling a bit better. A GP can organize a Mental Health Care Plan, which may give you Medicare rebates for up to 10 appointments with a psychologist. To learn more about a Mental Health Care Plan, please click here .
What good will it do to talk with a psychologist or counsellor?
Talking over your problems and concerns with a qualified, caring professional can help you in the following ways:
- Provide you with support and information
- Help you to resolve unwelcome feelings or problems about your loved one’s diagnosis, treatment and survival
- Help you with tensions in relationships
- Help you with other problems in your life
- You can learn a range of practical coping skills
- Help you to develop the goals and focus you may need to find
It is great if you use family and friends to talk with about what you are all going through. Sometimes though, it is just helpful to talk with someone who is more removed from the situation and without fear of upsetting or worrying them.
Here is a good starting point for finding a psychologist.
You are not alone in feeling depressed, anxious or stressed.
There is plenty of support information or people to contact listed on the resources page.