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During a stressful illness such as cancer, caregivers often become
anxious. They may be afraid of what the future will bring, worry about
their loved one's illness, and worry about their own ability to handle
all the tasks of caregiving.
These are normal reactions that may last
from a few days to a few weeks. But a more intense anxiety, beyond
ordinary worry, can develop over time and keep people from doing things
that are important to them.
Did you know anxiety can be managed and treated so people
enjoy life again? Below are some of the symptoms of serious anxiety.
- You tire easily, yet have trouble sleeping
- Your body is
constantly tense
- You have racing thoughts.
- You are unable to
control how much time you spend worrying
- You have frequent aches and
pains that can't be traced to physical illness
- You are irritable most
of the time
- You have had angry outbursts that are unusual for
you
- You find yourself trembling or shaking
- You have noticed a racing
heart, dry mouth, excess sweating, or being short of breath
- You feel the worst will happen (even though no one has told
you that)
Some worries are normal for people who are taking care of
loved ones with cancer, and sometimes people will have 1 or 2 of the
symptoms for a short time after starting to care for a loved one. You
may want to talk with friends, family or a doctor about these concerns.
Some people find that it helps to get more information about managing
caregivers' responsibilities, including how to talk about cancer, and
how to find a support group.
However, it is important to see a doctor if your anxious
feelings are strong, if you have fearful thoughts, or if you can't
accomplish your ordinary, daily activities. Another sign you may need
help is when your anxiety lasts for more than two weeks. If you have
any of the above symptoms, we encourage you to print out this checklist
and talk it over with a doctor, nurse, social worker, or other
professional on your cancer care team.
After seeing a doctor, you may feel better quickly because
anxiety can be treated. People are often shocked at how much better
they feel, and wonder why they waited so long to get help.
ACS support
programs reach cancer survivors and patients
throughout the US, and practical advice is available online to help
patients with managing
day-to-day and coping
with physical and
emotional changes. For more information call your American
Cancer
Society at 1-800-ACS-2345.
At the ACS
Cancer Survivors Network Web site you can trade information
and experiences with other patients and survivors--all from the
convenience of your own home.
Revised: 1/3/2008
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