The therapeutic process faced by women with breast cancer is long and psychological support is essential from the outstream, in this sense psychoeducation is essential: to provide information about the disease and the techniques that we will use to improve their physical and mental state. that is, with the intervention we will try to improve your well-being in all areas.
It should be noted that breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, although it is important to note that the mortality rate from breast cancer has declined in recent years.
- Today in this article we will talk about the importance that relaxation can have for women who have been diagnosed with this.
- The objective of integrating relaxation techniques into the treatment is to learn how to control the level of activation by modifying different physiological conditions.
It should be noted that relaxation techniques tend to increase parasympathetic activation and decrease the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, so is relaxation considered a state of underactivation, characterized by low heart rate, peripheral vasodilation, diaphragmatic breathing, low muscle tone?
However, in addition to the effects on reducing physiological activation, relaxation techniques have other cognitive effects. We talk about increasing the subjective feeling of relaxation, concentration and reorientation of attention, greater self-control or greater ability to discriminate physiological responses.
As Beck mentions, in reference to the cognitive part, it is our mind that leads people to believe certain beliefs about themselves, mistakes or distortions in their thoughts that, instead of appeasing the battle against the disease, make it even more difficult.
The cognitive aspect is fundamental in the treatment of cancer control, since the thoughts that these women have and feed will promote their positive state or, on the contrary, give a more negative view of the disease, positive thoughts will increase self-esteem, will struggle. , motivation and adherence to treatment.
“Cancer has changed my life. Thank you for every day. Olivia Newton John.
With relaxation in the cancer patient, we try to avoid the nausea and vomiting of chemotherapy and certain types of radiation therapy (conditioned and generalized to certain stimuli that cause discomfort), somehow we try to reverse the effects of this type of conditioning, which, on the other hand, is common in patients who have already had several sessions.
In addition, relaxation improves the emotional state with which the patient faces the different tests and results. Finally, relaxation promotes self-control and limits impulsive behaviors that are often tempting by the frustration the disease can cause.
The type of relaxation recommended for each situation will depend on different variables, such as our knowledge of the technique, the plane in which our anxiety most appears, or the time we have to achieve it, then we will examine two of the most important techniques that can be applied to breast cancer patients.
Stress learning is done through various exercises that represent the application of tension, voluntarily and intensely, in different regions of the body. As you progress through the exercises, repetitions will decrease so you can eliminate stress exercises.
“Cancer can make me lose all my physical abilities, but it cannot touch my mind, my heart and my soul. ? – Jim Valvano-
When it comes to a complex stage of the disease, a chemotherapy session, another radiation therapy session, a visit to the oncologist waiting for results, discover with fear and anxiety a way for your body and mind to regain a state of relaxation, helping to cope with the disease and combat this phase that you are experiencing.
“No one can function perfectly without a little peace and silence from time to time. -Cristophe Paolini-
Anyone who has experienced cancer up close or has an idea understands that the suffering associated with the disease can hardly be measured. How does a person feel when they listen?Is it a multitude of feelings, fears, anxiety, conflicting worries?
That is why it is positive to remember one thing: every day has its purpose, step by step, step by step, we are facing and overcoming difficulties, in this sense it is inevitable to think about the future and what will happen at the end of treatment. and be afraid that it won’t work, that the process will take time, or that the steps taken to tackle cancer are not enough. It is precisely in relation to this anxiety, associated thoughts and emotions that relaxation can help us.