Cancer Emotional Well Being

Dr. Niki Barr . . . As Seen on TV

Click the station logos below to view the videos of Niki’s tele>vision appearances.

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Join the Cancer Emotional Well Being List

Join our e-mail list today and receive your free guide Seven Important Simple and Effective Tools for Navigating Cancer with Emotional Wellness.

This guide provides valuable tools and strategies for patients, their families and caregivers who are struggling with the emotional swings that accompany the journey through cancer.  These are based on Dr. Barr’s many years of experience counseling cancer patients and her understanding of what patients need to cope in the moment and make decisions about their care.

You will also receive information about useful resources, stories and insights to help you or someone you care for.

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A Blog For You

This blog is written for you to relax, think, learn, celebrate, get inspiration, feel soothed, incorporate strategies, ask questions, and find respite. It’s a blog for you with cancer, regardless of what kind of cancer or what stage your cancer is in. It’s a blog for your family members, friends, and caregivers.

Finally, word has come out, emotions of cancer, emotional support of cancer patients, emotional support of their loved ones and their caregivers matters. In fact, emotional wellbeing within cancer necessarily goes hand-in-hand with medical treatment. How can a body be treated leaving out emotions?

I had the opportunity to establish a psychotherapy practice within a resource center for cancer patients and their loved ones. In weekly, one-hour sessions we explored emotional obstacles and concerns tied to cancer. Together, we then devised strategies and tools to assist with feeling emotionally empowered.

Focused on cancer emotional wellbeing, this blog will address issues and concerns while suggesting techniques for moving yourself forward emotionally throughout cancer. Please feel free to ask a question in this regard located on the website. I will post answers weekly.

Additionally, my book on emotions and cancer is coming soon. The book offers easy strategies and tools for your emotional empowerment. Meanwhile, I am hopeful both blog and website will be a helpful resource for you.

We want to hear from you! Please share your stories, experiences, and ideas / commentary about any aspect related to the treatment of cancer and dealing with the emotions of cancer.

Thank you for coming! I hope you will find yourself returning often!

Ask Niki a Question

Have a question you would like to ask Niki? Use the message box below, and be sure to include your email address. Niki will answer questions each Monday on her blog. Thank you for sharing your question.

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Ask Niki a Question

Q And A With Niki

Question:

I had a question on twitter from a woman asking about uterine cancer and lynch syndrome (a genetic digestive cancer, can include further impact for women).  Living in “the unknown” pops out dramatically within cancer and many other concerns linked to cancer.

Answer:

How does one deal with living in “the unknown”.  It’s not easy and it’s very normal to have all kinds of emotions flowing through you.

~feel what you feel: scared, confident, sad, disappointed, hopeful, numb, worried, whatever you feel.  (If you’re feelings are interfering with your daily functioning, definitely talk with your doctor.)

~stop the “what if ” thinking game in its tracks.  What if the cancer spreads, what if the medical treatment isn’t effective, what if I die?  ”What if” thinking is destructive and a game you cannot win.  Be on the lookout for these thoughts, catch them quickly and distract yourself by choosing other thoughts or actions.  Watch the little girl skipping down the block, turn on a good movie, make your list of errands, wonder what kind of bird is outside chirping, or cuddle with your pet. You know how to distract yourself in a healthy way, become an expert at it.

~ask yourself frequently is this thought helping me or hurting me? Answer and take needed action.  Specifically, if your thought is helping you, keep thinking it.  If it’s hurting you, think of a thought that would in fact be helpful.  Example:  I just don’t know what’s going to happen to me….instead… that’s true, but now I’m going to think about watching my team play.  That’s true, but now I’m going to wrap this package.  That’s true, but now I’m going to….

It’s not easy, but you can work with “the unknown” by focusing on right now and using distraction.

Please, let me know how these tools work for you.  Thank you for asking!