Coping with festive occasions
Festive occasions may not feel festive if you or your loved one have blood cancer. Birthdays, religious celebrations and other significant events should be a joyful time. For people with blood cancer and their families, it can be a time of stress, disappointment, loneliness and grief. Coping with treatment effects, changes to relationships, roles and responsibilities, and financial stress.
A few questions to ask yourself:
- What is important to me during the festive season?
- How can I plan for the festive season so that I stay well physically and mentally?
- What boundaries may I need to put in place to ensure my wellbeing?
Coping with stress during festive occasions:
- Prioritise your health. Eat well, limit alcohol, keep active, and get enough sleep.
- Set realistic expectations of yourself and others.
- Set boundaries and communicate them to those you choose to spend time with.
- Ask for help planning and preparing for celebrations.
- Shop online.
- Plan a budget to reduce costs. Gifts to a set value or one present per person, a barbeque or bring-a-plate, low-cost venue like a public park or beach.
- Avoid known triggers. If possible, delay difficult conversations or re-visiting family conflicts.
- Be kind to yourself. Have a range of things that help you feel calm and support your needs.
- Rest when you need to.
- Practice gratitude. Appreciate small things people do for you and show your appreciation.
- Get support – Emotional support services – Leukaemia Foundation.
- For the bereaved there is no wrong or right way to act. Seek support and find ways to ease you through this time – Grief and bereavement support services – Leukaemia Foundation.
References:
- Coping with special occasions – Cancer Research UK
- Managing stress through the festive season – healthdirect
- Ten Tips to Stress Less during the Holidays – WayAhead