Anxiety, Depression and Breast Cancer
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Anxiety, depression and breast cancer Anxiety and depression are Living with breast cancer is one of Some common symptoms of common in women with breast many things that may trigger anxiety. anxiety include: cancer, but they are often Anxiety is common, but the sooner • racing heart overlooked and, therefore, you get help, the sooner you can • tightening of the chest undertreated. The good news is begin to recover. that there are effective treatments • snowballing worries Signs of anxiety for both anxiety and depression. • focusing on worry and not With careful management, The symptoms of anxiety often develop being able to distract yourself gradually over time. Given that we all the symptoms of anxiety and • trouble sleeping experience some anxious feelings, it depression can be treated along can be hard to know how much is too • feeling jumpy, restless or shaky. with those of breast cancer so you much. In order to be diagnosed with There are effective treatments can live as well as possible. an anxiety condition, it must have a available for anxiety. major impact on your life, for example This fact sheet provides information fnding it diffcult to make decisions or For more information on anxiety on anxiety and depression, their fnding it hard to go out socially. and treatments see the beyondblue links with breast cancer, treatments Understanding anxiety fact sheet or available for anxiety and depression, There are many types of anxiety, and visit www.beyondblue.org.au/anxiety and how to help yourself or someone there are a range of symptoms for close to you. each. Anxiety can be expressed in different ways such as uncontrollable worry, intense fear (phobias or What is anxiety? panic attacks), upsetting dreams or Anxiety is more than just feeling fashbacks of a traumatic event. stressed or worried. Anxious feelings are a normal reaction to a situation where you feel under pressure. These feelings usually pass once the stressful situation has passed, or the ‘stressor’ is removed. However, for some people anxious feelings happen for no apparent reason or are more intense and continue after the stressful event has passed. For a person experiencing anxiety, these intense feelings cannot be brought under control easily. Anxiety can be a serious condition that makes it hard for a person to cope with daily life. There are many types of anxiety and many people with anxiety experience symptoms of more than one type. www.beyondblue.org.au 1300 22 4636 1 273648_1114_BL0375_6pp.indd 1 21/11/14 8:41 AM What is depression? While we all feel sad, moody or low from time to time, some people experience these feelings intensely, for long periods of time (weeks, months or even years) and sometimes without any apparent reason. Depression is more than just a low mood – it’s a serious condition that has an impact on both physical and emotional wellbeing. Depression affects how you feel about yourself. You may lose interest in work, hobbies and doing things you normally enjoy. You may lack energy, have diffculty sleeping or sleep more • feeling worthless, helpless Physical changes than usual, feel anxious or irritable, or and guilty fnd it hard to concentrate. Symptoms of breast cancer treatment • increased irritability, frustration such as tiredness and pain can put a The good news is, just like a physical and moodiness person at greater risk of developing illness, depression is treatable and anxiety and depression. It can also • feeling unhappy, sad or miserable effective treatments are available. make anxiety and depression diffcult most of the time to diagnose as these symptoms Signs of depression • thoughts such as, “I’m a failure”, can be masked by side-effects of A person may be depressed if she or “Life’s not worth living”, “People treatment for breast cancer. In he has felt sad, down or miserable would be better off without me”. addition to this, some breast cancer most of the time for more than two As with anxiety, there are effective treatments, such as chemotherapy weeks and/or has lost interest or treatments available for depression. and hormone therapies, can cause pleasure in usual activities, and has For more information on depression chemical changes in the brain. This also experienced some of the signs and treatments see beyondblue’s can also put a person at greater risk of and symptoms in the list below. Anxiety and depression: An information experiencing anxiety and depression. It’s important to note that everyone booklet or visit www.beyondblue.org. Lifestyle changes experiences some of these symptoms au/depression from time to time and it may not When you have breast cancer, there necessarily mean you are depressed. “Depression can hit anybody. It are many changes you may have to Equally, not every person who is doesn’t matter how well-adjusted deal with including: experiencing depression will have all you are.” • coming to terms with “why me?” of these symptoms. The symptoms – Mary, 62, breast cancer • dealing with the uncertainty of the will not provide a diagnosis – for that survivor of 13 years you need to see a health professional – illness and imagining the worst but they can be used as a guide. • dealing with tiredness and the side What are the links between effects of treatment Some common symptoms of depression include: anxiety, depression and • making family, work and fnancial breast cancer? adjustments in anticipation of • not going out anymore, loss of treatment and/or periods of interest in enjoyable activities Research shows that anxiety and being unwell depression are common among • withdrawing from close family women with breast cancer. One • dealing with the response and friends study found that up to 50 per cent of partners, children, family • being unable to concentrate and of women with early breast cancer and friends. not getting things done at work may experience anxiety and/or These changes can cause ongoing or home 1 depression in the year after diagnosis. stress which puts a person at • feeling overwhelmed, indecisive It is understood that fewer women greater risk of experiencing anxiety and lacking in confdence experience these conditions in the and depression. second, third and fourth years, • increased alcohol and/or drug use however up to 15 per cent of women “It was just one thing on top of the • loss or change of appetite and may still experience these conditions other – the surgery, the chemo, my signifcant weight loss or gain in the ffth year after diagnosis. marriage, the kids, my job, thinking This may be related to a number of • trouble getting to sleep, staying about my mortality – and I just hit different factors. asleep and being tired during the wall.” the day – Judy, 52 2 273648_1114_BL0375_6pp.indd 2 21/11/14 8:41 AM What are the treatments for Medication “You can get down to the bottom Antidepressant medication anxiety and depression? of the spiral and don’t know how is sometimes used along with you’re going to get out. If I had got Talking and emotional support can psychological therapies to treat some help earlier, it may not have help to reduce the stress of coping moderate to severe depression and been so bad.” with breast cancer, but if things some anxiety conditions. become more diffcult, professional – Grace, 57, breast cancer survivor of help may be needed. six years Making a decision about which antidepressant is best for a person There is no one proven way that can be complex. The decision will people recover from anxiety or Psychological treatments be made in consultation with a depression and it’s different for Psychological treatments can help doctor, after careful assessment everybody. However, there is a range with recovery and to prevent anxiety and consideration. The doctor of effective treatments and health or depression from recurring. should discuss differences in professionals who can help people on These treatments help build effects, possible side effects of the road to recovery. There are also skills in coping with stressful life medications, and whether they can many things that people with anxiety circumstances and can be provided by interact with other medications you or depression and breast cancer can a psychologist, psychiatrist or other are taking. Stopping medication do to help them to recover and stay trained health professional. should only be done gradually, with well. The important thing is fnding the a doctor’s recommendation and right treatment and the right health • Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) under supervision. professional that works for you. is an effective treatment for people with anxiety and depression. It A doctor or treating health Different types of anxiety or teaches people to evaluate their professional will take into account depression require different types of thinking about common diffculties, several factors when suggesting the treatment. These may include physical helping them to identify unhelpful most suitable treatment. Regular exercise for preventing and treating patterns of thinking and modify contact with and ongoing assessment mild anxiety and depression, these thought patterns and the way by a doctor to check that treatments counselling by a trained health they react to certain situations. are working effectively is an important professional or, in some part of becoming and staying well. • Interpersonal therapy (IPT) circumstances, treatment with Most people taking medication will is also effective for treating antidepressant medications. The also beneft from psychological depression and some types of treatment for anxiety and depression therapies, which will reduce the anxiety. It helps people fnd new in someone with breast cancer likelihood of anxiety or depression ways to get along with others and involves a coordinated approach coming back after the person has to resolve losses, changes and managed by your primary health stopped taking the medication.