Coping Resources

Health Monitor Magazine

For the first time in years Carrie Walker has to remind herself to eat and drink. She was diagnosed with breast cancer four months ago and is now receiving chemotherapy. Carrie has dealt with many different emotions and feeling's, she has found many ways of coping with her new diagnosis. She talks to family members and her close friends. Carrie also talks to fellow patients who have dealt with the battle of cancer in their lives. She is trying to surround herself with positive people so she can fight for her life. Carrie has now joined a support group for newly diagnosed women, it has made her realize there are plenty of other people who are dealing with the same situation as her. Some people in her support group have fought cancer and won. This provides her not only with a space to share her feeling, but to also learn how other people have learned to cope.

The patient in this story is using coping resources to deal with her stress. This patient has created a social support network, she joined this support group to better manage her stress. Social support can also build your immunity to better fight off your disease. The people she has created in her network she can depend on for reassurance. Some of her network can also relate to her situation because they have dealt with the same issues in their lives.