#gyncsm Community: anxiety

Showing posts with label anxiety. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Dealing With Anxiety July 8, 2015 Chat

One of the questions on our October of 2014 survey asked about chat topic ideas for the coming year. Over 90% of the survey takers rated "Dealing With Anxiety" as important or moderately important topic. Tonight's chat proved the importance of the topic among the members of our community. We had 53 participants, 536 tweets in the hour and over 1.2 million impressions. We were happy the Association of Oncology Social Workers (@oncosocialwork) was able to join us.

The questions that guided our discussion and a few of the responses:
T1: What instances seem to cause the greatest anxiety among cancer patients and survivors? What are your triggers?

@gyncsm T1 Whenever I have to take a blood test or ultrasound or other test. Waiting for the results is hard.
— Lisa Gonzales (@runlikeacoyote) July 9, 2015

T1 My greatest anxiety is the annual scans & tests I need to make sure cancer aint back. Triggers is when I see the hospital #gyncsm
— Dr. Gia Sison (@giasison) July 9, 2015

T1: anxiety regarding the cost of cancer care is huge - not just monetary - also time away from work/family/friends #gyncsm
— Shannon Westin (@ShannonWestin) July 9, 2015

T2: Have you spoken to your healthcare provider about what causes your anxiety? Did it help? Do providers bring up and provide info?

T2: AS a provider, I find a calm demeanor combined with a detailed plan seems to reduce my patients anxiety. #gyncsm
— Rick Boulay,MD (@journeycancer) July 9, 2015

T2 Patients want to be "good patients" for their doctor - don't want to admit they need help at times #gyncsm
— AOSW (@oncosocialwork) July 9, 2015

@MDAndersonNews uses a distress thermometer to help determine which patients need a referral for support #gyncsm
— Shannon Westin (@ShannonWestin) July 9, 2015

T3: What are tips and resources to relieve anxiety? What have you found to be helpful in dealing with anxious feelings?

@gyncsm T3 Running helps me deal with anxiety. It reminds me I AM healthy again. Also, sharing my feelings w/ friends & asking for prayers.
— Lisa Gonzales (@runlikeacoyote) July 9, 2015

@gyncsm Yoga has changed my life, and not hiding any struggles, it's really helped. #gyncsm
— Kristal Turner (@KristalTurner) July 9, 2015

T3 diaphragmatic breathing, relaxation skills, exercises, journaling, lists of "projects", many other skills #gyncsm
— Alene Nitzky Ph.D RN (@AleneGoneBad) July 9, 2015

T4: In the bigger picture, what are ways that we can change the healthcare system itself so that patients experience less anxiety?

Need to use allied health professional (social work, nurse navigators, etc) more to provide resources to patients and caregivers #gyncsm
— Jen Burzawa (@jburzawa) July 9, 2015

T4 maybe some structured check-ins - telemed/other during that wait post visit for first check up; referrals ahead of time #gyncsm
— Christina Lizaso (@btrfly12) July 9, 2015

T4 Make navigating insurance processes easier - just making the appointment shouldn't cause anxiety! #gyncsm
— AOSW (@oncosocialwork) July 9, 2015

If you missed the chat you may read the transcript here and the analytics here. Please scroll down for list of resources mentioned during the chat. And you may continue the conversation on the Smart Patients platform at https://www.smartpatients.com/gyncsm

We hope you will join us next month on August 12, 2015 to discuss Dealing with Short and Long Term Side Effects. Please remember to tweet using the #gyncsm hashtag to share information with our community.

Dee
#gyncsm co-moderator and co-founder

RESOURCES

Definitions of Anxiety and Depression
http://www.anxietycoach.com/anxiety-and-depression.html

NCI @theNCI - Adjustment to Cancer:Anxiety and Depression
http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/coping/feelings/anxiety-distress-pdq

Cancer.Net @cancerdotnet
http://www.cancer.net/coping-and-emotions/managing-emotions/anxiety

Cancer Care
http://www.cancercare.org/tagged/anxiety?gclid=CJ3A86XkzMYCFQmKaQod4GUPuA

Cure Today: Scanxiety With Lynch Syndrome
http://www.curetoday.com/community/georgia-hurst/2015/04/scanxiety-with-lynch-syndrome

ASCO One in Three People with Cancer has Anxiety or other Mental Health Challenges
http://www.asco.org/press-center/one-three-people-cancer-has-anxiety-or-other-mental-health-challenges

JCO : Screening, Assessment and Care of Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms...
http://jco.ascopubs.org/content/32/15/1605.full

Gyn Onc : Depression, Anxiety, and Quality of Life in Patients with Epithelial Ovarian Cancer http://t.co/bdOGIIIcGU

British Journal of Health Psychology: Social support, anxiety and depression after chemo for ovarian cancer: A prospective study http://t.co/YmGwnUKQLx

JCO : Evidence-Based Treatment of Anxiety in Patients With Cancer
http://t.co/99PebxIS8v

CancerConnect.com Psychosocial Needs of Survivors of Gynecologic Cancers Must Be Addressed http://t.co/4lMSF9w5AZ

Medivizor 15 tips for Coping with Scanxiety
http://medivizor.com/blog/2014/06/03/15-tips-cope-scanxiety/

13 Things People With Anxiety Are Tired of Hearing, And What You Can Say Instead
http://themighty.com/2015/07/13-things-people-with-anxiety-are-tired-of-hearing-and-what-you-can-say-instead/?utm_campaign=site_twit&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social

Health Journeys - Meditation resources
http://www.healthjourneys.com/Store/Anxiety-Relief/29

NOCC - Living with OC
http://www.ovarian.org/coping.php

Reiki: Helping to Relieve the Anxiety of Cancer Patients
http://t.co/o9wP7XvfPw

Society of Gynecologic Oncology @SGO_org
https://www.sgo.org/

NY Times:
Anxiety Lingers Long After Cancer
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/12/anxiety-lingers-long-after-cancer/?_r=1
Lost in Transition
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/03/16/lost-in-transition-after-cancer/

@nannyangel

Nanny Angel Network provides free, professional relief childcare to mothers with cancer & their families.

Zero Suicide Toolkit for Professionals

http://zerosuicide.sprc.org/toolkit

Friday, July 3, 2015

July 8th chat - Dealing with Anxiety

This month on Wednesday July 8, 2015 the #gyncsm community will be discussing "Dealing with Anxiety".

Anxiety is defined as "a feeling of worry, nervousness or unease". The NCI states that anxiety disorders include excessive anxiety, worry, fear, and/or dread.

We hope that you will join us in sharing what aspects of cancer cause you anxiety and what you have learned that helps you cope with anxiety.

Below are the questions that will guide our discussion.

T1: What instances seem to cause the greatest anxiety among cancer patients and survivors? What are your triggers?

T2: Have you spoken to your healthcare provider about what causes your anxiety? Did it help? Do providers bring up and provide info?

T3: What are tips and resources to relieve anxiety? What have you found to be helpful in dealing with anxious feelings?

T4: In the bigger picture, what are ways that we can change the healthcare system itself so that patients experience less anxiety?

To prepare for the chat, here is a topic overview from the National Cancer Institute: "Adjustment to Cancer: Anxiety and Distress".

We look forward to having you join us at 9pm (EST) on the 8th.

Dee

#gyncsm co-moderator

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Demons of the Mind- PTSD and Mental Health Concerns - July 2014 chat

This month we discussed the mental health issues (anxiety, fear, depression, PTSD) that gynecologic cancer survivors may experience and suggested ways to cope with those issues. We were joined by our mental health moderator, Dr Ann Becker-Schutte, as well as a number of other health care professionals and survivors. We had 43 participants total and a total of 582 tweets in the hour. Additional analytics may be found here.

The night's topic questions were:

T1: What are the signs of emotional distress? How do you know when it is time to get additional help?

T2: How often is emotional state discussed during patient visits? Is it asked about during cancer care appointments?

T3a: What situations for you have led to emotional distress? What are some key triggers?

T3b: What do you do that helps you through times of distress? What are some resources?

T4: Once beyond treatment, many survivors continue 2 worry & have feelings that impact daily living. What can survivors do to cope?

T5: Living with uncertainty of a recurrence is difficult. What have you found helpful?

T6 (1/2): When we connect w/ others impacted by cancer, there is the reality of loss & also guilt re: surviving when others don't.

T6 (2/2): What keeps you connecting? What helps you cope?

If you missed the chat a complete transcript is found here.

Our next chat topic is Where to go for support . We hope you can join us on Wednesday, August 13, 2014 at 9pm EST.

Mental Health Resources:

American Cancer Society Cancer Treatment & Survivorship Facts & Figures 2012-2013
http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@epidemiologysurveilance/documents/document/acspc-033876.pdf

Communications skills training for health care professionals working with people who have cancer - PubMed http://t.co/oiYAe6f8lN

NCI Fact Sheet Psychological Stress and Cancer

http://t.co/wCYyypOWen

Cancer Care Support Services

http://t.co/xBP3sug7MS

LiveSTRONG Survivor Care and Survivorship Notebook

http://t.co/RxdvHZxYNL

American Psychosocial Oncology Society