How Can I Take Care of Myself?

Childhood cancer can be a stressful and life-changing experience. With everything going on during diagnosis and treatment, it is common to give all your energy to your child. Some caregivers may lose hobbies and healthy habits. It can be hard to feel like yourself and find the time to take care of yourself.  

After treatment, you might continue to have worries and fears related to your family’s cancer journey. Some families have worries about their child’s future health and wellbeing. You might feel guilt when you are away from your child, such as worrying if they will be safe and healthy without you there. You may still be processing what your family went through. Coping with these worries and emotions can weigh heavily on you. 

It is important to remember that your needs matter too. When possible, slow down and take care of yourself. We hear from many caregivers that self-care feels very difficult or even impossible near the initial diagnosis. Now that the dust has settled in some ways, you can serve as a model for your child about how to manage stress in your daily life. Often, you may not be able to be the parent that you want to be until your own needs are met. 

In this session, we will cover:

• Getting out of negative cycles that can stop you from taking care of yourself
• Gaining skills to take care of yourself
• Learning what you can and cannot control