Communication & Dealing with Difficult Scenarios
Dealing with Strong Emotions and Difficult Scenarios As you know, dealing with a prostate cancer diagnosis brings up a wide range of emotions. The degree to which these emotions are expressed may vary, and participants may express emotions in ways you might not entirely understand or feel comfortable with. Here are some ways to help you deal with a highly emotional participant. Anxiety and Fear: You may well remember the anxiety and fear you felt when you were diagnosed, and you understand there may be many reasons to worry. In addition to treatment decisions, potential side effects, and wondering what to do if treatment doesn't work, many cancer patients also have family, work, and financial stressors with which to deal. • Practical Matters: Help by referring them to our ZERO360 case-management program for practical matters such as insurance issues, applying for benefits, and helping to access any available financial assistance. As a Peer Support Volunteer, you are not responsible for providing in-depth assistance with these matters. Encourage participants to access ZERO360, and don't forget you can always call us or refer participants to us for additional guidance if you are stuck! • Emotional Matters: It is, of course, perfectly natural for a person with prostate cancer to feel anxious and afraid. For some, talking may help. Talking may overly agitate others, and finding a distraction may be the best bet. For everyone, hearing your story and how you've managed may be just what they need. Depression and Grief: Sometimes, the treatment team assumes that being depressed is a normal part of the cancer experience. This does not mean that participants would not benefit from professional help. There is also often a sense of grief and anticipatory grief for patients diagnosed with prostate cancer. Many things can change when someone is diagnosed with cancer. Grief reactions may be prompted by the loss of health and vitality, sadness over choices made or not made, and overall grief about the loss of the person they were before their diagnosis. As a Peer Support Leader, it is not your responsibility to assess the mental health needs of participants. However, if you sense that someone is really struggling, it is appropriate to suggest seeking professional assistance, whether through a counselor, pastor, therapist, or psychiatrist. If you received help with your own emotional needs and feel comfortable discussing it, please share that part of your story. Anger: Anger is often a response to being diagnosed with prostate cancer. The person may be angry with himself, someone else, or another entity. However, sometimes, when people are very angry and not coping well, they raise their voices, become abusive, and use curse words. Being angry is okay and understandable, but yelling and swearing are not. In the rare event that you find yourself on the other end of a person who is intensely angry, ask him to calm down so you can continue to talk. If the participant cannot do so, it is important to recognize that the conversation is no longer productive and might need to end. Let the person know and suggest another way or time to communicate. Please also contact us if you need assistance.
20 | ZERO Prostate Cancer
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