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Taking Care of Yourself
Dealing With Stress
Take Care of Your Mind and Body
Take Steps To Keep Things Simple
It's important to "stay fit" - both inside and out. This chapter
offers tips to help you keep on track during this experience.
Stress can make you forgetful, frustrated, and more likely to catch
a cold or the flu. Here are some tips that have helped other teens
manage stress. Pick one or two things to do each week.
- Stay connected.
- Spend some time at a friend's house.
- Stay involved with sports or clubs.
- Relax and get enough sleep.
- Take breaks. You'll have more energy and be in a better
frame of mind.
- Get at least 8 hours of sleep each night.
- Pray or meditate.
- Make or listen to music.
- Help others.
- Join a walk against cancer.
- Plan a bake sale or other charity event to collect money to
fight cancer.
- Avoid risky behaviors.
- Stay away from smoking, drinking, and taking drugs.
- Put your creative side to work.
- Keep a journal to write down your thoughts and
experiences.
- Draw, paint, or take photographs.
- Read about people who have made it through difficult
experiences in life. Learn what helped them.
- Eat and drink well.
- Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day to help prevent fatigue.
- In the evening, switch to caffeine-free drinks that won't
keep you awake.
- Grab fresh fruit, whole-grain breads, and lean meats like
chicken or turkey when you have a choice.
- Avoid sugary foods.
- Be active.
- Play a sport, or go for a walk or run.
- Learn about different stretching and breathing exercises.
| Did you know? |
- Exercise has been proven to make you feel better.
Running, swimming, or even walking at a fast pace can help
improve your mood.
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Staying organized can also keep your stress level under control.
Here are some tips to get you started.
- At home
- Make a list of things you want to do and put the most
important ones at the top.
- Make a big calendar to help your family stay on top
of things.
- At school
- Try to get as much done in school as you can.
- Let your teachers know what's happening at home, without
using it as an excuse.
- Talk to your teachers or a counselor if you are falling
behind.
| Get help when you feel down and out. |
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Many teens feel low or down when their parent is sick. It's
normal to feel sad or "blue" during difficult times. However, if
these feelings last for 2 weeks or more and start to interfere with
things you used to enjoy, you may be depressed. The good news
is that there is hope and there is help. Often, talking with a
counselor can help. Below are some signs that you may need to
see a counselor.
Are you:
- Feeling helpless and hopeless? Thinking that life has no
meaning?
- Losing interest in being with family or friends?
- Finding that everything or everyone seems to get on
your nerves?
- Feeling really angry a lot of the time?
- Thinking of hurting yourself?
Do you find that you are:
- Losing interest in the activities you used to enjoy?
- Eating too little or a lot more than usual?
- Crying easily or many times each day?
- Using drugs or alcohol to help you forget?
- Sleeping more than you used to? Less than you used to?
- Feeling tired a lot?
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, it's important to
talk to someone you trust. Read more about seeing a counselor
or joining a support group in the section called
Finding Support.
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"Things weren't easy between me
and my dad. We fought about
everything. After he got cancer,
I felt really bad. Then the nurse
told me about this support group.
I ended up going with a friend.
At first I just listened. Then I
realized they were going through
some of the same things that I was
and actually had some helpful
advice. Dad and I talk more now
and even laugh about the dumb
fights we had."
- Alex, age 17
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