Talking About Mental Health
- NBC News meteorologist Ginger Zee recently spoke about the importance of de-stigmatizing conversations about mental health. Zee has struggled with depression personally throughout her life.
- Being open about emotions, thoughts, and feelings is helpful for anyone struggling, especially those facing unimaginable difficulties such as cancer.
- One of the main steps in one's cancer journey is learning how to cope with those emotions and find a solid support system to lean on.
Zee recently appeared at the Ohio HR Conference to speak to a number of Human Resource professionals about de-stigmatizing discussing mental health in the workplace, and making it a safe environment for those who are struggling. Zee admitted that she has struggled with depression personally, and never felt comfortable discussing it with colleagues. Now, she’s speaking her truth and making it her mission to change the way we approach emotional health.
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Being open about emotions, thoughts, and feelings is helpful for anyone struggling, especially those facing unimaginable difficulties such as cancer. Bettering your emotional and mental health can sometimes be just as important as the physical treatment your body is going through, as mindset greatly impacts treatment outcomes in many cases.
Prioritizing Mental Health During Cancer
A cancer diagnosis can often result in a number of overwhelming emotions, such as sadness, anger, anxiety, and grief. These emotions are expected, and absolutely common. However, one of the main steps in one's cancer journey is learning how to cope with those emotions and find a solid support system to lean on. One emotion in particular can be a difficult one to accept, and that's vulnerability.
By being vulnerable and open about what you're going through, helps eliminate any shame or fear you may feel after receiving the news. Furthermore, embracing vulnerability can help ease any doubt a person may experience as they go through treatment, such as fearing their bodies won't be strong enough. By embracing these emotions, it allows you to realize everyone is imperfect, which helps you connect with others in a different way.
"Shame comes from this sense of vulnerability, right? There's something wrong with me because I'm human and I'm susceptible to illness, and now I have an illness. Now I have cancer," Dr. William Breitbart, chief of the psychiatry service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, previously told SurvivorNet. "What I will often point out to people is that we have the ability to choose how we respond to this vulnerability. We can be ashamed of it or we can use it to create a sense of empathy."
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